Mumbai, Jun 29: A Home for the Aged on Jhadpoli-Thapadpada road in Vikramgarh taluk of Thane district near here, which was under construction, was damaged by a group of unidentified miscreants during last week.
This Home for the Aged was being built by the nuns of congregation of St Joseph who have been rendering their selfless service in this remote area for the last 2 years while residing in the 'St Joseph's Home nearby. This mission station comes under Vikramgarh parish of Thane diocese. Sr Freddy (superior), Sr Damiya and Sr Sunita are rendering their service in the place.
Having understood the need of a home for the aged and clinic, the sisters undertook the construction of a new building just opposite to their present convent some time ago. Kenneth Remedius, an entrepreneur from Mumbai, donated the land for the new building. The work was almost getting over when group of miscreants with masks on their faces came over to the place, damaged the building and chased the workers with a stern warning that they will be killed by blasting crackers in their mouths, if they continue with the construction work. They were also heard of shouting "we won't allow Christians to pitch their tent in this Hindu-dominated area. If the nuns continue, they will be killed."
More than this the reply by the local MLA, MP, police, tahsildar, deputy commissioner and other top brass officials was simply shocking. Taking a stance in support of the miscreants they advised the nuns to vacate the place since a complaint had been filed against them that they have been indulging s in conversion activities.
Distressed but not depressed nuns brought the matter to the notice of Dr Abraham Mathai, the deputy working president of Minority Commission of Maharashtra government. He then succeeded in getting permission for the nuns to resume the construction work within a couple of days. He then visited the place at Thapadpada along with some journalists where the contractor of the building Kunal Sawant informed them that the miscreants were the members of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Maharashtra, RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishat.
The same people had organized a rally "Vishal Hindu Sammelan" wherein more than 2,000 Hindu women had been grouped together. Some posters depicting that these nuns were influencing Sadhu Mahanta, Mahant Balaknath Baba and other Hindus to carry out conversion were displayed during the rally.
Bottom line: The miscreants needed more than 2,000 women to oppose the good work of only 3 women (nuns). This surely is the victory of the nuns over the fundamental forces who did not have the guts of disclosing their identity when they attacked the workers and damaged the building. They wore masks on their faces and came in the night to carry out their attack. This speaks about the calibre, dedication, and commitment of nuns who are carrying out humanitarian work.
This Home for the Aged was being built by the nuns of congregation of St Joseph who have been rendering their selfless service in this remote area for the last 2 years while residing in the 'St Joseph's Home nearby. This mission station comes under Vikramgarh parish of Thane diocese. Sr Freddy (superior), Sr Damiya and Sr Sunita are rendering their service in the place.
Having understood the need of a home for the aged and clinic, the sisters undertook the construction of a new building just opposite to their present convent some time ago. Kenneth Remedius, an entrepreneur from Mumbai, donated the land for the new building. The work was almost getting over when group of miscreants with masks on their faces came over to the place, damaged the building and chased the workers with a stern warning that they will be killed by blasting crackers in their mouths, if they continue with the construction work. They were also heard of shouting "we won't allow Christians to pitch their tent in this Hindu-dominated area. If the nuns continue, they will be killed."
More than this the reply by the local MLA, MP, police, tahsildar, deputy commissioner and other top brass officials was simply shocking. Taking a stance in support of the miscreants they advised the nuns to vacate the place since a complaint had been filed against them that they have been indulging s in conversion activities.
Distressed but not depressed nuns brought the matter to the notice of Dr Abraham Mathai, the deputy working president of Minority Commission of Maharashtra government. He then succeeded in getting permission for the nuns to resume the construction work within a couple of days. He then visited the place at Thapadpada along with some journalists where the contractor of the building Kunal Sawant informed them that the miscreants were the members of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Maharashtra, RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishat.
The same people had organized a rally "Vishal Hindu Sammelan" wherein more than 2,000 Hindu women had been grouped together. Some posters depicting that these nuns were influencing Sadhu Mahanta, Mahant Balaknath Baba and other Hindus to carry out conversion were displayed during the rally.
Bottom line: The miscreants needed more than 2,000 women to oppose the good work of only 3 women (nuns). This surely is the victory of the nuns over the fundamental forces who did not have the guts of disclosing their identity when they attacked the workers and damaged the building. They wore masks on their faces and came in the night to carry out their attack. This speaks about the calibre, dedication, and commitment of nuns who are carrying out humanitarian work.
