Z. Lohe
[dropcap]K[/dropcap]udos to the Khasis’ Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council(HNLC) for demanding the closure of BJP offices in Meghalaya State in view of Christian persecutions. Neither do I know the antecedent of HNLC nor I have link with the setup, but I appreciate the particular posture adopted by HNLC in voicing out the truth at the appropriate moment of the visit of Amit Shah, President, BJP to their State.There have been incessant persecutions of Christians in India by Hinduism activists ever since BJP came to rule the country 11 months ago. We all know that our Churches are damaged, assets destroyed, Churches and Christian institutes desecrated and Christian women raped by such Hinduism fanatics with the tacit support from BJP. Moreover, several Church members were forcibly reconverted to Hinduism by those Hinduism fundamentalists. Adding to those atrocities against Christians, there have been continuous hate and racial speeches by Unions Ministers and BJP MPs against the religious minorities. After 67 years of peaceful coexistence barring communal skirmishes at times, there had not been such concerted and pre-meditated anti-Christian movements of BJP and its cohorts as this time which has posed the most dangerous threat to minorities particularly the hardly 3% Christians in India today.
Do Nagaland Christians believe that what HNLC considers those activities of BJP to be harmful to the people of Meghalaya will not have any adverse impact on the wellbeing of the people of Nagaland?
Will the Nagaland Christians welcome the introduction of theocracy in India?
What type of persecutions being faced by fellow Christians in other parts of India are not faced by Christians in Nagaland nor can it happen to us. What Hinduism hoodlums can do to 95% Christian populace in Nagaland as for physical persecution is concerned? Perhaps, these are the reasons why Christians in Nagaland decided to remain mute at the ongoing persecutions of fellow Christians in other parts of the country. Perhaps, Christians in Nagaland feel that when Hinduism activists do not persecute us here in Nagaland, why should we, for the sake of other Christians, react and create bad blood between the two communities. Perhaps, Nagaland Christians are too preoccupied by their work load that they have no time to think and pray for the fellow suffering Christians in the country who are in need of prayers and supporting statements. Perhaps, Nagaland Christians fear that any amount of criticism or condemnation of anti-Christian activities of BJP workers would isolate ourselves and it would severe the relationship with powerful and moneyed people. Perhaps, Nagaland Christians have been hesitating to react against such persecutions fearing that it would antagonise NPF ministry which has been having alliance with BJP. Perhaps, Nagaland Christians fear that antagonizing BJP directly or indirectly or its partner NPF may obstruct the inflow of funds to the coffers of Churches. Perhaps, Nagaland Christians fear that antagonising people in power despite of persecutions of fellow Christians may lead to rescind of promised funding of Church projects or refuse to sponsor Christian foreign tours.
I did not like to be an incendiary although I knew that an opportune moment was there for Nagaland Christians to raise similar voice as HNLC on 17.4.2015. Indeed, I was hoping that Christians in Nagaland would undertake a peaceful and silent procession in Dimapur with placards and banners in protest against persecutions and all kind of human rights violations in India under BJP government on that day when BJP President arrived in Dimapur although harsh bandh as such was not necessary. If not procession, I expected Nagaland Christians would paste posters against Christian persecutions and constitutional rights violations for the BJP President to see on arrival in Dimapur. None of these happened.
The next day, news papers carried photographs of Amit Shah flanked by Nagas in traditional attires giving him the heroic welcome. Except the mild and brief letter of Dimapur Christian Forum addressed to BJP President, people remained silent.
Ultimately the message, the BJP President collected from Nagaland was that Christians in Nagaland do not bother about persecutions as those acts are not against them in person. Possibly BJP President, in his maiden visit, must have found that Nagas are receptive, hospitable, sufficiently divided, timid because of being poor, corrupt and specially sycophantic. If so, I am also afraid that Amit may prefer to advise his party’s government to keep Nagaland on tender hook. After all, who should be afraid of toothless tiger.
Another possibility is that since he was treated well during his one night stay in Dimapur, he may open the Delhi’s window by which funds may come like torrential rain and fill the empty coffer of Nagaland with overflowing. Should Nagaland be flooded with Amit Shah’s fund, who knows many Naga Christians may be swept away by the current.
