Christians protest demolition drive, slum children’s future uncertain

Calcutta – Demolition of a church that also serves as an orphanage for slum children has been temporarily postponed following widespread protests by the Christian community in Calcutta, West Bengal.

The Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) had served an eviction notice on the Christ Mission Ashram in Santoshpur Avenue, South Calcutta, in November, stating that the building required to be demolished as it stood in the way of a road expansion.

The Christian community was shocked by the notice issued as the church also served as a shelter for slum children.

On December 6 (the eve of the deadline for eviction,) when the CMDA officials visited the site, they found that the local Christian community, led by Bangiya Christiyo Parisheba (Bengali Christians Association) along with some 150 slum children were staging a protest.

“We strongly condemn the CMDA action and demand immediate withdrawal of the demolition notice,” Sar News quoted BCP general secretary, Herod Mullick, as saying.

“With Christmas round the corner, we were served a demolition notice. This has dampened the spirits of the children, to whom the church is more than a home,” exclaimed Rev. Sukrit Roy of Christ Mission Ashram.

Fortunately for the slum children, the CMDA officials has decided to postpone their demolition drive indefinitely.

However, the municipal body is still firm on razing the church.

“Keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the people, especially on the eve of Christmas, we have decided to postpone the demolition. But we will definitely bring down the boundary walls of the church before December 25. The rest of the work will be completed after the church is allotted alternative land,” said Debdas Bhattaacharya, chief engineer (traffic & transport) CMDA.

It is reported that the church authorities have requested the Governor, the Chief Minister and the district magistrate to intervene in the matter.

“The church has so much religious sentiment attached to it. How can the government demolish it? There are several other religious structures in the city that have been conveniently bypassed during development work,” said Rev. Roy, citing the example of a mosque inside the perimeter of Calcutta airport that poses an obstacle to the movement of planes and is coming in the way of a proposed new runway.

Though CMDA is determined to go ahead with the demolition plan and has assured that those affected will be suitably compensated, Rev. Roy is sceptical. “We have not received any written assurance other than the demolition notice from the authorities,” he said.

However, Sar News has reported that the church authorities are not entitled to receive compensation since the land and the church, on legal papers, belong to different organizations. “We have asked them to make necessary changes related to the ownership of the property,” Roshni Sen, district magistrate, South 24 Parganas, was quoted as saying.