A prominent Catholic organisation has condemned the Delhi Police’s recent decision to deny permission for the annual Way of the Cross procession (a key religious event observed every Palm Sunday by the Christian community) for the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi, citing flimsy reasons. The Cathedral has been holding this peaceful religious procession every year for the last 15 years. Of course, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, after coming under fire, has now reportedly defended the above decision, stating that the denial was based on security concerns — which sounds really childish. Why? Is the Christian community a violence-promoting community, historically well known for creating violent communal riots everywhere by carrying out such religious processions, shouting provocative chest-thumping slogans, throwing stones at Hindu temples/Muslim mosques, and blocking/disrupting public roads in our country? Well, I personally feel (forget about the excuses given) that the above decision was deliberately taken at the behest of leaders of the newly hoisted BJP government in Delhi (which includes the Centre) to humiliate the Christian community and show it its actual place.
