The Phom Baptist Christian Association has criticised enforcement of vehicle signage rules in Nagaland, calling it a threat to religious liberty.
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DIMAPUR — The Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) has termed the enforcement of restrictions on church vehicle signages and stickers a “new form of persecution” by the central government. It alleged that the Motor Vehicles Act was being used “in a high-handed and dictatorial manner to suppress civil rights and religious liberty”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association claimed that the intention behind the implementation of the Act by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways was “suspicious” and warned that “today, the ban is on church vehicles’ signage; tomorrow, it will be on church buildings’ signage”.
The PBCA further stated that the Motor Vehicles Act was intended to ensure road safety and not to regulate signages and stickers on church vehicles. It urged the authorities to reconsider the enforcement of the rules.
Also read: Nagaland bans unauthorised religious, NGO signages on vehicles
Referring to Article 371A, the association maintained that Nagaland’s special constitutional provision was intended to safeguard the collective interests and civil rights of the people.
The PBCA argued that the distinction between the State and the Church is a foundational principle of secular democracy and that religious institutions should be allowed to function without government interference.
According to the association, the display of religion-based or NGO-based identifiers on vehicles is not for publicity but to transparently identify institutions engaged in social service.
Read more: CBCC urges rethink on ban of religious stickers on vehicles
It also cited the role played by churches and NGOs during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that they had worked alongside the government in facilitating public health initiatives and logistical support.
Questioning the rationale behind restricting church vehicle signages, the PBCA maintained that such identifiers merely reflected institutional identity and service.
It further stated that Christianity has long been intertwined with the social and cultural life of Nagaland and that church-related travel and activities form part of regular religious responsibilities.
The PBCA also alleged that the government was increasingly introducing measures perceived to target the Christian community, adding that the enforcement was hurting Christian sentiments.