Mumbai: Police in Mumbai have registered a case against a pub in the western Indian city for using Catholic iconography and symbols in its décor in an ‘objectionable’ manner.
The Dindoshi police registered a First Information Report against “Goregaon Social” on the complaint of Watchdog Foundation, an NGO that aims to promote human rights and social advancement through the use of media.
The pub is located inside Oberoi Mall, Goregaon, a Mumbai suburb. The foundation filed a complaint against the pub and its management on October 2 afternoon.
The Archdiocese of Bombay too issued an official press statement earlier in the day condemning the restaurant for hurting religious sentiments.
According to a statement by the Watchdog Foundation, Goregaon Social’s interiors are plastered with outrageous depiction of various saints and religious items from the Bible.
“There are stain pictures of saints with funny names written there under. The Bar area has a backdrop of a Tabernacle set up. Even the seating arrangement in the bar is that of church Pews. Even the messages inscribed on the benches are from Holy Bible. This Blasphemy is nothing but an act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to a religious or holy persons or sacred things, which is sacred or inviolable,” the complaint reads.
According to the NGO, the pub management has resorted to the “deliberate and malicious act” to outrage the religious sentiments of the Christian community.
“For instance Jesus is holding a leather bag, Mother Mary having a chain in her hand (instead of Rosary), Moses holding a Computer Tablet, St. Anthony is shown wearing Glasses, etc. Similarly Tabernacle where Eucharist is stored or reserved is instead shown in the said pub having some liquor bottles with inscription of Holy Cross on the container resembling the Tabernacle, which is considered most Holy by Christians,” it adds.
Watchdog Foundation has written to the commissioner of police, the Prime Minister and the chief minister demanding action over the distasteful jibe.
The NGO, along with Guardians United, has demanded the removal of ‘all such religious articles hurting religious sentiments’ and arrest of the pub’s owner under Section 295A of Indian Penal Code.
The archdiocese’s press release has demanded the pub’s closure and cancellation of its license until it changes its interiors.
Father Warner D’Souza, a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, questioned the Bombay Municipal Corporation for permitting such interiors. “It is a clear violation of our laws and it is upsetting that our community is taken for granted like this,” he added.
The spokesperson said two priests went to the pub on October 2, but the management sent them back saying they were closed for maintenance.
Father D’Souza wants the pub owner arrested and the place shut down. “It shocks me that the place has been open for two months and yet, nobody reported it,” he added.
The offensive pieces have been removed from the pub as of 8 pm on October 2.
The pub is owned by Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt Ltd. Its chief executive officer and managing director is Riyaaz Amlani.
The management has issued a release stating, “In no way is there an intent on the part of Social to hurt any religious sentiments. We are more than happy to engage with anyone who feels offended by the design and make rectifications.”
Meanwhile many Catholics took to social media to voice their anger and signed the Change.org petition demanding action against the pub’s owner. The petition garnered more than 3,000 supporters within hours of posting.