CBCC calls for boycott of nationwide cleanliness drive on Oct 1; says ‘No work on Sunday’

DIMAPUR — The Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has called upon church associations and local churches in Nagaland to boycott the proposed hour-long cleanliness drive called by Prime Minister of India on October 1, ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, which also falls on a Sunday.

Dismayed by the call to conduct a social work on Sunday, a day of rest and worship for the Christians, the CBCC on Monday issued a press release, asking church organisations in Nagaland to instruct “their respective members to abstain from the said work as a sign of our resentment against the Government of India for repeated attempt to disrupt Christian faith and practices in the country!”

The council also appealed to the frontal organisations under its jurisdiction and Christian leaders in general to stand together as Christians in defense of their faith, saying: “We cannot violate the decree of the living God to keep the Sabbath day/Sunday holy.”

“We laud the Government of India for any good initiatives but abhor the communal attitude at the Centre for constant intentional target against Christian faith and other minority communities! We must learn to live together as fellow human beings with mutual respect for one another by keeping the fabric of secularism in the country. Cleanliness is an ideal we must all advocate regardless of religions but ‘Cleanliness is not above godliness,” it added.

Also read: Nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1 — MoHUA