Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 26 (EMN): The decision of the BJP unit Nagaland to immerse the ashes of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Doyang River on Monday, August 27 has drawn sharp criticisms from various church organisations, citizens and from the opposition party Congress as well.
Apprehensions, aspersions and condemnations has been doing the round in social media that such a practice will set a very negative precedent and do much damage to our Christian identity.
Nagaland being a Christian dominated state, people are of the popular view that it is against the Christian belief and an alien practice to perform the religious rites of another religion in the name of ‘respect and homage’.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, NBCC general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho opined that “NBCC is in no way meant to be disrespectful of our leader late Shri Atal Vajpayee or the Hindu community”.
Nevertheless, he said “for a Christian because of his political affiliation if he begins to stoop so low to adore religious practices of other religion and do so in the pretext that he does so in Christian spirit it is a weary move”.
He also made it clear that it mourned the passing away of Atal Vapayee, former prime minister of India who is a great leader of the nation and respect him as a politician and a leader, and also understand the sentiment of the political party which he represents.
While it has no problem if they pay homage, Keyho was apprehensive that “if Christians in the party begin to perform the religious rites of another religion in the name of respect and homage and bring in a culture that is alien to us the divide will become bigger.”
He was of the view that “if Hindus in the party want to do anything with the ashes of our leader let them take to river Ganges which they perform such religious right”. However, asserted that at this point, without going further, respecting the culture of the land and hurting the religious sentiment of the minority will certainly save the situation.
Political party and politicians, he said should play uniting politics and not propagate alien cultures and practices. This should not become their agenda. "Stay true to your faith and practice and show respect to your leader in the way befitting without imposing what others want you to do to gain their favour" stated Keyho.
Lotha Baptist Churches Association (LBCA) executive secretary, Nyanchumo Lotha was also of the view that while it respect and honour Vajpayee’s good deeds, performing rituals of another religion is against the Christian principle and Lotha culture.
Lotha said it strongly condemned the act of BJP president, Imna Along Longkumer if at all he is performing the rituals of immersing the ashes of Vajpayee stating that “he is neither our God or religious leader of the Nagas.”
Executive Secretary, Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM), Dr. Mar Atsongchanger said it doesn’t subscribe and is strongly against what BJP president Imna Along is doing as a leader.
“We all respect Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a leader and a politician” said Atsongchanger however, added that this is not the way Naga leaders should do “to the extent of worshipping his ashes.”
Nagaland being dominated by Christians, he opined that anything that they (leaders) do should not disturb the faith and practices of the Christians in Nagaland and their act should not be a stumbling block to the Christian faith in Nagaland.
Meanwhile talking to Eastern Mirror, BJP state unit president, Temjen Imna Along Longkumer clarified that he has done no rituals, but by virtue of being the BJP president of Nagaland, he has received the ashes of Vajpayee to be handed over to the Minority Morcha of BJP Nagaland to perform the rites honourably.
Longkumer maintained that his faith cannot be questioned just because he has shown respect to a great leader who has done so much for the people of Nagaland, and felt it is an honour for the Naga people.
On the criticisms from various quarters, he maintained that Nagaland being a secular state, people need to respect and be tolerant of each other.
He clarified “I am not going to do any rituals and I don’t know any ritual” however, added that they will follow and immerse the ashes of Vajpayee in the river by the Minority Morcha of BJP Nagaland, which comprises of both Hindus and Muslims.
When enquired in which river the ashes will be immersd, Longkumer refused to disclose the location.
The Lotha Hoho has declared it will not allow the ashes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister of India who passed away recently, to be immersed in the waters/rivers in Wokha jurisdiction.
A statement from the organisation on Sunday stated that the Nagaland unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might ‘perform their rite at any part of Nagaland of which we have no say but will not be allowed to be performed in any part of Wokha jurisdiction for the reason that it is neither our cultural practice nor religious belief.’
“We make it clear that we respect BJP as one of the national parties of the country, the various cultures of the country and most of all (the) late Vajpayee but that does not mean that we should allow our distinct culture to be diluted,” the statement read.
