The Sliema Local Council has unanimously decided to write to the department of local government and request the removal of the Sri Chinmoy statue, earlier then it is technically allowed to do so.
Regulations dictate that the decision by the Local Council to approve the statue, which happened in January, cannot be changed for a minimum of six months. This means that technically, the Council must wait until July to formally put forward a request for its removal.
Contacted by this newsroom, Sliema Councillor Paul Radmilli, speaking on behalf of the Local Council, said that in the light of public outcry, and the amounts of complaints we received from Sliema residents who frequent that area, we unanimously decided to put forward our request early."
He further elaborated that since the "situation is exceptional," the Council felt that it would be prudent to respond to the residents of Sliema and lobby for its removal earlier on.
Asked about who would be tasked with the statue's removal, Mr Radmilli said that the Council will be asking for the Sri Chinmoy organisation to carry out the work.
"We also agreed that we will try to come to an amicable arrangement. We do not want to enter into a confrontation with this entity, we are going to write a cordial letter requesting that it is removed," Mr Radmilli said.
He explained that Sliema Mayor Anthony Chircop put forward the proposal in a Council meeting, where there was unanimous agreement about writing to the local government department early.
Sri Chinmoy was a cult leader, born in India but spent a large portion of his life in the USA. He preached peace, oneness and self-realization. He advocated physical fitness and wrote a number of poems, songs and prose to deliver his message. Mr Chinmoy had a very large following, and was even endorsed by the United Nations and certain prominent politicians.
His reputation is tarnished however with a number of allegations which say that he has sexually abused some of his female followers by asking them to perform sexual acts on each other.
Other allegations related to his finances, he preached humbleness and humility however it has been said that he owned a number of properties in Europe and the States.
People have also alleged that the group has been used for those at the top, such as Mr Chinmoy, to take money from the offerings of the group's followers.
The inauguration of the statue in Sliema was well-attended, with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia present. Other well known figures in local culture such as Xandru Grech were also present.
The ceremony to unveil the statue took place to mark the end of an international peace initiative called the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1QKPLqb
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment