Bengaluru: Tension has gripped Mahima Betta near Devanahalli on the outskirts of north Bengaluru after a statue of Jesus Christ was removed by the local authorities following a complaint by some “Hindu organisations”.
This comes over a month after a major controversy erupted in connection with the proposed installation of a Christ statue in Kapalabetta hillock, 30 km from Bengaluru.
In the latest incident, the Christ statue atop the hillock named Mahima Betta was removed Tuesday by the local tehsildar after he received a complaint by some Hindu groups, who alleged the land allotted for a cemetery was being “misused”, said Inspector General of Police (Central Range) K.V. Sharath Chandra.
“Twenty days ago, the tehsildar had received a complaint from some Hindu organisations that a statue of Christ had been installed on government land. We have shifted the statue to a local church,” Chandra told ThePrint.
Names of the “Hindu organisations” could not be ascertained.
Police said the tehsildar ordered to remove the statue only after conducting a thorough inspection. The statue has now been kept outside St Joseph Church in the area.
Chandra said police personnel were deployed in the area Tuesday as a precautionary measure to ensure that shifting of the statue happened peacefully.
The four-and-half-acre land was allotted in September 2019 to be used as a burial ground. Local Christians have been using the land for the purpose of prayers for a few decades now.
The area around Mahima Betta is a Christian-dominated neighbourhood. During the month of Lent, a period of 40 days that comes before Good Friday and Easter, many people flock to the hillock for prayers.
On top of the hillock, there was a wooden cross, and Christians used to pray in front of it.
“They demolished the cross and moved the statue away,” said Fr Mathew Kottayil of St Joseph Church.
“We had a peace meeting on 27 February along with the tehsildar. At the meeting, we were asked to remove the statue. We sought a month’s time as our Lent season ends in April. But we were told that they cannot wait and the statue will be removed,” he added.
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Land used for ‘forcible conversion’
A local Hindu leader, who was among the complainants, told ThePrint the land was being used to “forcibly convert people to Christianity”. This was also stated in the complaint letter, added the leader, who didn’t want to be named.
“Though the tehsildar did not find any case of forcible conversion, the illegal installation of the statue was immediately acted upon,” said a police officer, who did not wish to be identified.
The land was being used for purposes other than burial, and the tehsildar felt it was necessary to get the land vacated, the officer added.
Handiwork of ‘outsiders’
The incident has led to an outcry among the Christian community, with the Archbishop of Bangalore Rev. Peter Machado describing the incident as “unfortunate”.
“It is very sad, unfortunate and regrettable that the police bowing to the pressure of a few outsiders have forcefully removed the statue of Lord Jesus. It is a blow to the communal harmony of the people in our village and violation of religious freedom as guaranteed in the Constitution,” a statement released by Machado said.
“During the weeks before Good Friday and Easter, Christians have prayers and devotions called Way of the Cross to meditate on the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. This practice has been going on for more than 30 to 40 years without any difficulty,” read the statement.
Officials at the St Joseph Church said non-Christian local residents never raised an objection to the “prayers, burial or devotions on the hillock”.
They alleged that the complaint was the handiwork of a few Hindutva leaders who are “outsiders” and want to create tension.
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That image is NOT of JESUS or CHRIST., That acquiline look is of a man who was killed many centuries later !
Jesus was agaibst Idolatory and he broke Idols in the Temple of Solomon !
Jesus also forecast the destruction of the Temple of Solomon ! dindooohindoo
Jeuss SAID that he came to EXECUTE THE ORAL LAW ( against idolatory) and it was PAUL and the Roamans, who made the Church on the death of Jesus
Jesus also said that NO ONE BEFORE HIM EVER HEARD GOD !
No man hath heard God at any time. (John 1:17-18 and John 5:37 + 61)
This is s classic example of the Hindoo corruption of Indian Christians ! It is the Indian DNA – which has doomed the faith of Jesus in South and East Asia ! Abrahamic faiths are not for Indians ! They will always be pagan – as they do not have the DNA of the Romans and Greeks !
Jesus was an ANARCHIST, revolutionary and a radical – who would be called a TERRORIST today – Che with the Oral law = JESUS ! His BIG PICTURE ORAL LAW =[PLATONIC UNIVERSALS – WHICH HE LEARNT IN THE MISSING YEARS FROM AGE 12 -32
JESUS also said that Moses was a false prophet !
For the law was given by Moses but grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ, (John 1:17-18 and John 5:37 + 61)
Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)
It’s a pity that now All the Church, Temple & Mosque in fact all religious places all the GODS dwelling in the sacred places closed the doors. Man was depending too much on technology and had high EGO. This Tiny Virus found way in the King Palace & Prime Minister place , it attacked also the Bishops & Priests. It didn’t spare anyone. Let us seek for Forgiveness now and forgive this RSS & BAJRANG DAL as they don’t realize what they are doing. They speak against Christians but never give up Western Style. All our Top Political Leader children are studying in USA, UK but not INDIA and they preach about Hinduism. One of the top Senior BJP Leader daughter in fact married to a Muslim. Hypocrisy is to the Core. Let us Forgive them and Confess our Sins for the return of the Grace..
While all rich Hindus in India are leading life according to the Christian culture why there is objection if some poor or sick Hindu accepts Christian religion.
Christian countries across the world should ask the ruling government of India and hindu radicals.. ‘What will happen if same is done in the Christian countries, if Hindu temples are demolished and Hindus are persecuted.’
Why don’t Christian countries come out in support of the Christians living miserably in India. Leaders of the Christian countries should talk to the ruling government of India. There are many incidents of brutal persecution of the Christians in India by Hindu radicals. Churches desecrated, Bibles burnt and Christian prayer services disrupted.
Christian countries around the world should demolish Hindu temples built on their land as idol worship is a sin in Christianity.Land belonging to the Christians should not be used for idol worship and snake worship. Our Lord abhors these things. Gas stoves from Hindu homes should be removed immediately because gas stove is invention of a British Christian.Electricity, electrical appliances, car, bus, train, motorbike, pants, jeans, shirt, shoes, toothbrush, toothpaste, dinning table, flush toilet… the list goes on. All these are invention of the Christians and belongs to the Christian culture. Hindus in India should not avail the benefits of the invention of the Christians which makes their life easier and comfortable. Hindus should not access internet and read and write English language. Hindus in India who are against the Christian religion and Christians should live life accordingly Hinduism.
Hindus are not against any other religion, this was an illegal land acquisition by the Christians, that’s why the statue was removed.
Read the article properly, I’d be perfectly ok if an illegally occupied Hindu temple land was vacated and given back to actual owner.
India is the most secular country despite being hindu majority, read our laws, equality for everyone.
I think a correct action has been taken. No doubts about it. Conversion using allurements and coercion is on rise all over south India including Bangalore.
Those who convert must be having a reason for their conversion. Moreover, it is their Constitutional right as an article in the ‘Constitution of India’ states that, ‘Citizens of India have right to profess, propagate and practice their religion and to chose his/her own religion.’ Do read the ‘Constitution of India’ and let people of your country live freely, peacefully and prosperously.What is wrong in it if someone accepts Christian religion. Are you not following Christian culture because it makes your life easier. Every commodity which you use to make life comfortable is invention of the Christians.