Nagaland Catholics urge Assam to uphold constitutional principles

DIMAPUR — The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has expressed concern over the rise of religious intolerance in the country, particularly in the neighbouring state of Assam and called for peace and dignity for all citizens, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the association said it was disturbed and pained to see the unfolding acts of oppression, de-humanisation, discrimination, desecration of religious objects, etc., across country.

Emphasising the importance of upholding the principles of equality and secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution, it questioned the government as to how it can “allow certain fanatical forces that act against its national commitment and adoption to commit acts of religious intolerance, sacrilege, persecution, and murder of fellow countrymen in the name of a religion.”

The CAN also highlighted recent incidents of religious intolerance and violence in the neighbouring state of Assam and questioned the Assam government’s silence and failure to defend the constitutional provisions when organisations such as the, “Kutumbha Surakshya Parishad, through some people like Satya Ranjan Borah, had blatantly and explicitly revealed an act of religious intolerance in Assam and indulged in sacrileges, threats and intimidation, violence and socio-religious crimes.”

It also criticised the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, which was passed in the Assam Legislative Assembly on Feb. 26, alleging that it is, “but a ploy with sinister religious intolerant design for scaling religious injustice in Assam.”

Quoting from the Hindu holy book Rig Veda, CAN called on believers to live in peace and unity, emphasising the need to respect and protect one another.

“Upon conscious reflection on the verse from the Rig Veda 6.75.14, the religious intolerance brooding in Assam in recent time is an affront to the teachings of Hindu religion, a criminal conspiracy and a grave threat to peace in the region,” it went on to say.

The association urged political leaders to adhere to these teachings and work towards establishing just peace in the region, and appealed to the government of Assam to uphold the principles of just peace as enshrined in the Constitution and to ensure dignity, respect, and recognition for all citizens.

It also called on all right-thinking citizens of Assam and the north-east region to join in upholding human dignity and promoting the common good.

“We believe that people or government stand to be all the more dignified and honourable by assuring dignity to its citizens, respect and recognition, the result of which will also ensure a common good for both the people or government,” the CAN statement read.

Further, it urged the present-day government of Assam, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, to address the concerns of the citizens and work towards building a congenial abode for all people of Assam and the region.