 "Picture credit: Faacebook")
Watchdog Foundation, a group working ‘for the interests of Catholic Christians’, filed a complaint against the popular resto-pub chain Social in Goregaon's Oberoi Mall, for hurting the Christian community. In the FIR filed at Dindoshi police station, the Foundation says that the decor of the pub was “blasphemous and hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community”.
A letter issues by the foundation, addressing the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, stated they “were shocked on noticing an outrageous depiction of various saints and religious items from the Holy Bible, which is nothing short of blasphemy to Christianity.”
The restopub is owned by Amlani’s Impresario Hospitality that has several popular food and beverages chains, apart from the various branches of Social across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
An FIR has been filed against Social and the owner Riyaz Amlani under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code, (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
“There are stain pictures of Saints with funny names written thereunder. 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 letter read, according to an Indian Express report.
"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 paintings include Jesus is holding a leather bag, Mother Mary having a Chain in her hand, Moses holding a Computer Tablet, St. Anthony is shown wearing Glasses.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," said the petition on Change.org which asks Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to shut down the pub. So far, the petition has recieved 7,434 signatures and has become a hot topic for debate on Facebook.
The Watchdog Foundation has demanded the removal of “all such religious articles”. The Archidiocese of Bombay demanded the closure of the restaurant and seizure of their trading licence.
