EMN
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 3
THE Church in Nagaland has appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the protection of ‘Christian minorities’ in India.
A three-member delegation led by Rev. Dr. L. Anjo Keikung, the general secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) representing the Baptists, Catholics, Nagaland Christian Revival Church, Assembly of God Church and Salvation Army Church of Nagaland met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his maiden visit to Nagaland on November 30 at the Police House, Chumukedima in Dimapur and presented him their appeal letter.
In their appeal letter the Nagaland church leaders said minority Christians in India are under constant threat. The appeal letter was supported by facts and figures of atrocities meted out against Christians in various states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Rajesthan, Odisha, Gujarat, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Utter Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Haryana etc.
“The Prime Minister showed deep concern in hearing such incidents taking place in the country. “He gave assurance that he will look into the matter”, the joint press release of the church leaders claimed.
“It is firmly believed that in a secular country like India, which claims to be one of the largest democracies in the world, minority groups of various religious affiliation and ethnicities should be protected by the Central Government and by the respective State governments,” the press note added.
The letter of these church leaders said the people of Nagaland State are truly honoured to have the Prime Minister of India visiting them. “We are indeed grateful to you for the care you have favoured us. We appreciate also the development concern of your Government for Nagaland. The peace and grace of God be upon you and may He endow you with wisdom from above as you continue to manage the affairs of the great Republic of India,” it stated.
“Knowing you as a man for the people, we take this opportunity of your visit to bring forth to your kind attention few lines of concern as the voice of the Church here in Nagaland,” it further said.
The appeal letter also said, “We love our country, India and we aspire for a country that is strong and resilient.” The church leaders also said they believe that to this end the Christians in India have contributed not less than any other religious groups in the history of the country. The letter claimed that Christians have been in the forefront for nation building. Their services in the educational, social and health sector are universally acknowledged and recognized by all sections of Indian population. Christians are at the forefront in matters of patriotism and defense, the letter further claimed.
The church leaders then pointed out that in many states Christians are deprived of their fundamental right to freedom of religion and practice of faith. “We speak on behalf of those living under threat, intimidation and forces of the larger community of other faith. We plead that your government would be a government that upholds the democratic and secular spirit of the constitution thereby letting Christian lives in equal freedom with other citizens in the country,” they stated in the letter to the Prime Minister.
“However, we are deeply concerned about the continued violence and atrocities against Christians in different parts of India. We are deeply pained to see our brothers and sisters targeted for no fault of theirs. They have become victims of malicious campaign by certain unruly fundamentalists who take the law into their own hands. We wish to also tell that in all these violence and atrocities, Christians have never retaliated against the people of other faith,” the letter also expressed.
