A Catholic institution in the national capital has said that Delhi Police refused to allow a major religious event to be celebrated by the Christian community here.
Sources in Delhi Police said that permission was not given because it was a non-traditional procession and said that police could refuse to give such permission due to security concerns.
Sources said, there are rules for traditional processions and non-traditional processions. (Palm Sunday) procession comes under a non-traditional procession, due to which the request was rejected. Usually we reject several requests made by all communities for non-traditional processions.
Union Minister George Kurien said that the procession was not allowed for security reasons and even the Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday was not approved.
Minister of State for Minority Affairs Kurien said, all such types of processions have been banned. The Catholic institution condemned the decision, calling it shocking and inappropriate.
People of the Christian community believe that on this day (Palm Sunday) Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem. On reaching Jerusalem of Jesus Christ, his followers welcomed them by waving the leaves of the palm tree.
Delhi Police has not given any immediate information about the procession. The President of the Catholic Association of the Arch -Archosis of Delhi (CAAD) AC Michael said in a statement, “It is very shocking and unfair.”The procession has always been peaceful and its coordination with the authorities has been good. Permission was not given citing law and order and traffic. But when other people take approval for similar events, this does not apply.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the police for not giving permission to take out the procession. Vijayan said that the Delhi Police’s decision not to allow Kuruthola Pradakshinam (Palm Sunday procession) at Sacred Heart Church in the national capital is condemnable.
