In a Delhi Catholic church, the Grotto of Our Lady is desecrated
by Nirmala Carvalho
Police have identified three culprits, who might be Sikh. For the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the deed is related to upcoming elections in Delhi. In his view, "some will try to polarise the electorate along communal lines".

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - This morning, the Marian grotto in Our Lady of Grace Church in Vikaspury, a New Delhi district, was desecrated. Video security cameras show three men wearing a Sikh headgear fleeing. Police have already identified the culprits.

"The vandals arrived at the grotto at around 4.20 am," Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) president Sajan George told AsiaNews. "The plan was well organised: one man broke the glass, another toppled the statue of Our Lady, and together they destroyed it."

According to the Christian leader, the desecration is tied to upcoming elections for the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, set for 7 February, which the Election Commission announced two days ago.

"With elections around the corner in Delhi, some will try to polarise the electorate along communal lines," the GCIC president explained. "This is a terrible blow to social harmony, religious tolerance and mutual respect."