Dimapur, Feb. 21 (EMN): While welcoming the statement of the Union minister of state for Home Kiren Rijiju—his ‘promise’ to ‘protect’ the Christian majority state of Nagaland and their religion and culture—the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has nonetheless termed it unfortunate that he ‘confined his declaration only to the Christians in Christian-majority states.’ He fell short of making a statement addressing the state of affairs in the country in general, the forum stated.
Speaking on behalf of minority communities in India, the forum advocated ‘unity in diversity and not unity in uniformity’ in the country. The forum maintained that in a country where regions and peoples are divided based on religion and culture it was important that the country maintained its secular fabric—respect each other’s differences.
“It is not the BJP but the forces of RSS and VHP that are persecuting the Christians, demolishing the worship places and most terribly burning of the Bible,” the forum’s vice president Rev. Dr. N Paphino stated in a press release.
Stating that other minorities—ethnic and religious groups in India—have also faced atrocities, the group accused Rijiju of ‘talking about the past’ and failing to address the ‘recent past and the present’ when Christian minority were being targeted. He said that churches in Nagaland shall not allow the forces of the RSS into the land.
On Rijiju’s remark that he would leave politics “if during our reign, any church and Christians in the state (Nagaland) are persecuted,” the forum wished him to make such a statement addressing the entire country.
Further, the NJCF questioned Rijiju if he was ‘blind to what is happening in India where in the country south, churches are being demolished and worshippers made to weep and plea for their case.’ The organisation added that it would ‘appreciate and hold him in high esteem’ if he would make such a bold statement on behalf of the country’s minority too.
