There was tension for more than two hours near the District Court Complex here on Tuesday after a group of advocates allegedly vandalised a temporary structure put up at the circle opposite the complex.
The advocates had taken exception to the circle being named after Mother Teresa (it is popularly known as Court Circle) and allegedly destroyed a pedestal and a flex poster with the inscription, ‘Mother Teresa Circle’.
The incident took place minutes before the formal inauguration of the circle by Dattatreya Patil Revoor, Gulbarga South MLA.
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Archbishop of the Gulbarga Diocese Reverend Robert Miranda, Reverend Victor Machado and members of the Christian community watched in horror as the advocates came running towards the pedestal and destroyed it within minutes.
The few policemen who were present were also taken aback.
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‘Permission obtained’
The Archbishop expressed deep shock and anguish.
He said that permission had been obtained from the government to name the circle after Mother Teresa.
He said, “No illegality was committed by us… this incident has come as a shock to everybody. Mother Teresa does not belong to any one community or religion. Her selfless service to society and action of aiding those in distress cannot be forgotten by anyone.”
The Archbishop and the Christian community have demanded that the police book cases against those responsible for the vandalism.
The police said that they would book cases against the culprits if a complaint was filed.