Visa denial to Rev. Franklin Graham stirs old wounds, says Chakhesang Public Organisation

DIMAPUR — The Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has expressed "grave disappointment and strong objection" to the denial of a visa to Rev. Franklin Graham, who was scheduled to minister at a Christian gathering in Nagaland.

In a press release, the CPO stated that the decision by the government of India has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Naga people, who had been preparing for months to receive him. It stated that the refusal reflects a pattern of discriminatory treatment that the people have endured for generations.

The organisation recalled the 1929 Memorandum of the Naga Club to the Simon Commission, quoting: “Leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times.” It stated that these words echoed the deep-rooted conviction of a people who have always known who they are, where they came from, and the values that guide their destiny.

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Reminding the government of India that meaningful coexistence must be built on respect, the CPO stated that actions undermining their faith and identity only deepen alienation.

The CPO reiterated its advocacy for the right of the Nagas to self-determine their future and to chart their own destiny, asserting that they are a unique people with their own unique history and inherent political rights.

It stated that the act is not merely a procedural denial but a "direct affront to the Christian community of Nagaland and to the dignity of an entire people." It added that the decision widens the "already fragile trust deficit and reopens historical wounds that have never been honestly addressed."

The organisation urged the government of India to act with fairness, transparency, and sensitivity and to refrain from decisions that wound the sentiments of a people with a long-standing and distinct historical identity.