Defiance-Article in Mumbai Mirror

From: The Parsee Voice
Date: 2009/8/4
Subject: TPV Defiance-Article in Mumbai Mirror

Today's Mumbai Mirror carries on its front page an article by Manoj
Nair about the defiant stand taken by Khushru Madon saying that he
will not stop conducting rituals for mixed-marriages Parsis. Putting a
sensitive community matter on the front page of a public newspaper to
sensationalise issues is definitely not ethical journalism. There is
nothing newsworthy in this for others as it is an internal matter of
the Parsi community.

Mr Nair seems to be happily playing into the hands of the deformist
lobby led by ARZ, who are hell bent on foisting their concocted brand
of Zoroastrianism on the community in spite of opposition from a
majority of the community.

Community members are requested to send in their protests to Mumbai
Mirror requesting that this kind of jouralism is hurting the religious
feelings of the Parsi community and should not be permitted.

Community members are also requested to show solidarity with the BPP
in its attempt to ban these two renegade preists, Khushru Madon and
Framroze Mirza, from performing religious ceremonies at Doongerwadi.
Doongerwadi is held in trust by the BPP on behalf of the community.
The current BPP trustees have been elected by the community and
represent the majority community's will. Hence they have the authority
to decide who functions at Doongerwadi and who does not. The BPP is on
the right path here and deserves community support on this issue.

Regards
The Parsee Voice Team

Renegade Priests

The Chairman
The Bombay Parsi Punchayat
August 4, 2009

Dear Dinshawji,

I write to you in my personal capacity as a donor voter, having a
vested interest in the upkeep and running of the Doongerwadi land as
per the time-tested customs and traditions. This is to extend my
whole-hearted support to you and your other colleagues on the BPP
board for preventing two renegade Mobeds from carrying out irreligious
activities inside the sanctified premises of the Towers of Silence and
other such places managed by the punchayat. It is my belief that a
vast section of our community welcomes this decision.

Nevertheless, I would like to caution the trustees not to succumb to
the pressure tactics and blackmailing by a handful of religious
rebels__however powerful they may be. Let me remind you that the
trustees have the mandate of the community and under no circumstances
should you climb down or even negotiate/discuss this matter with these
group of renegades. If they threaten to go to court, let them do so.
The community is behind you. After all this is the same cabal of
reformists responsible for illegally taking pictures inside the
Dakhmas and distributing them worldwide.

The trustees need to stand firm on this issue. Your foremost task as
trustees is to preserve and protect the Doongerwadi lands as mandated
by the religion and its High Priests. Please do not let the community
down.

Best Regards

Nauzer Bharucha