The demolition of a Catholic Church in the South Delhi region on Tuesday (July 12) morning has prompted widespread concern and condemnation among the Christian community.

The Little Flower Church in Lado Sarai, belonging to the Syro-Malabar rite was demolished by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation citing encroachment on government’s agricultural land “by instalment of religious structures”.

While the Home Department and the Delhi Municipal Corporation claim it is another case of encroachment on government land by installing religious structures, the Church maintains that the land was donated to it by locals over 12 years ago.

Father Jose Kannukuzhi, parish priest of Little Flower Church in Lado Sarai, said that on July 12 morning officials of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation came with three bulldozers and some 150 police personnel.

According to Father Jose,  the officer in charge said that they would only demolish a hall adjacent to the church building, but actually went ahead and razed the church.

 The land where the church stood was donated to the Diocese of Faridabad Syro-Malabar Diocese 12 years ago for religious purpose of some 1,500 local Catholics.

According to a report in the Times of India, the matter of ‘encroachment was earlier transferred to the ‘religious committee’ as per a directive of the National Human rights commission (NHRC).

The newspaper reports that it, based on a old high court order of 2015, the ‘Home Police II Department’ was directed to demolish the entire portion above the ground floor and parts of the ground floor where idols are not installed placed without waiting for the decision of the religious committee.

As the news of the demolition spread ,parishioners came to the demolished church to protest. People from other parishes also gathered at the church compound and joined a Mass and a candle light protest late in the evening.

Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad expressed sadness and shock over the incident. “The authorities have razed a religious place and hurt the sentiments of the people,” he told a Catholic news website.

Reactions are pouring in from Christians in other parts of India, who see this a worrying link in a chain of anti-Christian developments unfolding across the country.

“It is shocking and sad news,” said Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, also the president of North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC).

Speaking on behalf of NEIRBC, the Archbishop said, “Demolition of the church in Delhi has hurt the religious sentiments of the peace-loving Christian community not only in Delhi but across the country. The number of such incidents has been on the rise in the recent past, including many parts of Northeast India.”

Citing a stay order in place since 2015, the NEIRBC president said, “Why such a hurry to demolish a place of worship that is in place for more than ten years? The Municipal Corporation should have given sufficient time to the Church personnel to take legal recourse before the demolition. Such a hurried action has not only hurt the religious sentiments of the people but it also betrays hidden agenda of the local administration”.

Recalling how the blocking of a Church construction in Arunachal Pradesh and demolition order for churches in Manipur had caused protests and unrest in the Northeast region, the Archbishop said the demolition of church in Delhi may set a bad precedence and embolden the land mafia.

“We appeal to the government and the municipal corporations not to violate the religious sentiments of the people and not disturb the religious harmony of the country,” the Archbishop said.

  Catholic Church, Little Flower Chgurch