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Responding to controversy over utterance of “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” by Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla during an election meeting for 30 Alongtaki AC candidate Temjen Imna Along, the convenor of BJP Nagaland media cell Sapralu Nyekha on Saturday said it was the prerogative of Barla, who is a “very good Christian”, to carry forward his faith and it is his liberty to do so as a Christian.
Nyekha stated this at a press conference in Dimapur on Saturday, a day after the Dimapur Area Ao Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship (DAABPF) condemned the saffron party members for shouting ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!’ during an election campaign, not long after singing Christian song ‘I have decided’ with modified lyrics at a different event.
Terming it “utterly disgusting”, the DAABPF said the episode had hurt the sentiments of the Christian community in the state.
However, Nyekha said Barla did not commit any offence by using the phrase and that ‘it has come out from his heart’. He further asserted that members of BJP Nagaland are as Christians as any other member from other political parties, adding that they always invite a Pastor or Deacon to invoke God’s blessings whenever the state BJP holds meeting.
He, therefore, appealed to the DAABAPF not to misunderstand their intention as it was not done with any malicious intention.
BJP National spokesperson and in-charge of Nagaland, Nalin S Kohli, added that the programmes in Nagaland start by invoking God’s blessings, no votes were asked in the name of God.
‘I think Naga people were setting a standard that God should be remembered all the time before anything is done,’ he stated.
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Kohli expressed that some ‘misguided political people, to create confusion, were spreading this and not giving the full picture to either the organisation or the people of Nagaland’.
He also informed that they had two days of hectic tours of various constituencies along with the National General Secretary (ORG.) BJP central office, BL Santhosh for an organisational review and to meet their party members and candidates.
Kohli also informed that there will be joint campaigning between NDPP and BJP in different seats, while Chief Minister of Nagaland and Chief Minister of Assam will be campaigning for both NDPP and BJP candidates.
He went on to add that the alliance is one and the agenda is to form the government and serve the people of Nagaland with peace and development, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding from the national perspective and Neiphiu Rio from state.
It may be mentioned that the DAABPF had said the Christians use the expression ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!’ as spontaneous expression of joy, thanksgiving and praise towards God. It, therefore, stated that the jubilatory phrase attributed in high reverence to the living God cannot be used for whimsical political goals. It also called upon the BJP workers to refrain from imprudent attempts to fool the public by using religious songs and phrases.
(Dimapur, EMN)