Antique crucifix in Mumbai church destroyed

Catholic Secular Forum expressed fear that it might have been an indirect message from Hindu extremists to the Christian minority.

Faithful gathering the remains of the crucifix

Mumbai:  The crucifix dating back to 1880 at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Vile Parle, a western suburb of Mumbai, was found destroyed to pieces last Sunday.

The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) reported that the faithful of the Church of St. Francis Xavier have lodged a complaint to the police.

CSF condemned the acts of vandalism and desecration and expressed fear that it might have been an indirect message from Hindu extremists to the Christian minority.

Minority communities fear an increase of attacks by Hindu extremists ahead of the May 2014 general elections. A massive demonstration led by main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi is planned for December 22 in Mumbai. Thousands of Hindu extremist militants are expected to take part in the rally.

Modi is the Gujarat Chief Minister, under whose watch massive anti-Muslim riots took place in 2002. He was declared the Prime Ministerial candidate of right-wing Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been tipped by political analysts to win 2014 national elections. In the last decade or so, Modi’s party is also accused of anti-Christian riots in Odisha’s Kandhamal and other areas and for fanning recent riots in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar between Hindu Jats and Muslims, too.

Source: Agenzia Fides