Moodubelle, 25 June 2011: Parishioners of St. Lawrence Church Moodubelle conducted protest against Moodubelle Panchayath for their decision of illegal renewal of business licence to the shop at the land belonging to St. Lawrence Church. On Friday 24th June 2011 morning at 10.30 am more than 300 parishioners with a banner ‘Fight for Justice’ went on a protest march from the Church premises through the Moodubelle main road to the Panchayath premises in a procession shouting slogans against the Panchayath and gathered there.
The survey no. 200/1BP1 land RTC is in the name of St. Lawrence Church. The building on that land is under dispute and is in the court. Belle Panchayath had confirmed in their resolution dated 06.07.2010 that the business licence will not be renewed to the shop without the permission of the land owner St. Lawrence Church. The Belle Panchayath Development Officer has also confirmed on 21.03.2011 that the business licence will not be renewed, since the building issue is in the court. But on 23.06.2011 in the meeting held at Belle Panchayath it has been decided to renew the business licence to the shop keeper, which has been a violation and hence this protest is conducted.
The procession was led by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Rev. Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Alfonse Alva – Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Jesintha D’Souza – Secretary of Parish Pastoral Council, Comodor Jerome Castelino, Henry Fernandes and Jerald Fernandes. After discussion with the Panchayath, Louis Lobo the President of the Udupi unit of the Association International Fedaration of Karnataka Christian Association (IKFCA) spoke and said that this business licence issue has taken place without the knowledge and consent of the Panchayath President. The matter should be discussed in their next meeting and action should be taken as per the law and until then no illegal activity should take place. On this issue we the leaders shall be meeting the Deputy Commissioner of the district today evening, he said.
On this regard when the reporter asked Fr. Joswey, he said that “we are hurt with the Belle Panchayath’s decision to issue the business licence to others on the land of St. Lawrence Church, which is injustice to us and we need justice”, he said. When the reporter asked Jesintha Aranha – President of Belle Panchayath, she said that, “I have not given any kind of consent for this issue. If the mistake has taken place on this issue it will be discussed in the next meeting and the right decision will be taken” she said. Then she appealed to the protesters to withdraw their protest.