Nagaland: NDPP, BJP leaders meet Bishop, NBCC officials

Dimapur, Aug. 27 (EMN): Senior members of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland unit on Tuesday met the Bishop of Nagaland and officials of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), separately, to discuss and deliberate on pertinent issues and concerns involving the state and its people.

A press release from the PDA media cell informed that the delegation met Bishop James Thoppil at the Bishop’s House; and NBCC general secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, and the finance and property secretary Rev. TW Yamyap Konyak at the council’s office in Kohima.

“The deliberations were lengthy and covered a vast range of topics with concerns and suggestions coming from all parties, which were extremely fruitful especially for those persons representing the two principal political parties in the state. The BJP as well as the NDPP highlighted to the NBCC as well as the Bishop that the PDA government is a people’s government that stands for peace, universal brotherhood, development, secularism and transparency in governance in the spirit of inclusiveness.

“It was also assured that the PDA in the days and years to come will do all it can to address issues and concerns raised by the church and that the church should not hesitate to come forward and share their concerns and suggestions to the government and the alliance partners. The meetings concluded with the consensual agreement that such kind of discussions and deliberations is required more often, and further agreeing to meet regularly in future,” read the statement,

The PDA asserted that in its policy of inclusiveness, it is imperative that the relationship between the church and the government be further cemented as the church plays an integral part, not only in the spiritual growth of the citizens, but also in the all-round developmental and policymaking process of the state.

It expressed gratitude to both the Bishop and the NBCC for giving their candid and honest opinions on all matters discussed and hoped that even in the future such kind of open discussions will continue which will be for the benefit and growth of Nagaland and its people.