DIMAPUR, MARCH 8 (MExN): The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) on Friday said it was pained and disturbed by the unfolding acts of oppression, de-humanization, discrimination, desecration of religion objects across the country.
Taking particular exception to the ‘religious intolerance daunting’ in Assam, the Association questioned the very conscience of the Government of Assam for remaining silent and for not defending the constitutional provisions “when members of Hindu outfit known as Kutumbha Surakshya Parishad through some people like Satya Ranjan Borah had blatantly and explicitly revealed an act of religious intolerance in Assam and indulged in sacrileges, threats and intimidation, violence and socio-religious crimes.”
It also alleged that the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, which was passed in the Assam Legislative Assembly on February 26, 2024, is more implied than apparent and is but a ploy with sinister religious intolerant design for scaling religious injustice in Assam.
Towards this, the Association questioned if the Government of India was not founded on the principles enshrined in the Constitution and if it is not the bounden duty of the government to secure to all its citizens the same constitutional commitment.
“India has declared in its Preamble to the Constitution to constitute itself a sovereign secular, democratic republic with commitment to secure equality, liberty and fraternity to all its citizens. How can a government allow certain fanatical forces that act against its national commitment and adoption to commit acts of religious intolerance, sacrilege, persecution, and murder of fellow countrymen in the name of a religion?” read the press statement issued by the Association’s president, Johnny Ruangmei and general secretary, Teisovi Gerald Meyase.
Quoting a verse from the Hindu holy book Rig Veda which calls all its believers to live in peace, “O human beings of the Mother Earth give protection to one another from all sides so that all live in peace” (Rig Veda 6.75.14), the Association maintained that the religious intolerance brooding in Assam in recent time is an affront to the teachings of Hindu religion, a criminal conspiracy and a grave threat to peace in the region.
“As Catholic Christians, we believe in the goodness of every human being and do not doubt that better sense can prevail upon the political leadership of Assam Government if only the political leadership abide and conform to the teaching of Rig Veda 6.75.14” it went on to state.
Asserting that the Catholic community, under the aegis of the CAN, is committed to establishing ‘just peace’ and has been humbly and is committed in working towards this objective, the Association has appealed the Government of Assam to sincerely translate the meaning of just peace as enshrined in the Constitution of India and as endowed by the virtue of Universal Human Right to all people of Assam.
It also appealed to every right-thinking citizen of Assam and North-East India, irrespective of political and religious affiliations to uphold the dignity of every human person in understanding of the fact that “we are first dignified human beings and that it is just right.”
“We are of the hope that the present-day Government of Assam, under the leadership of Himanta Biswas Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, will feel and listen to the pulse, fears and hopes of the citizens of Assam, the threat to the frail peace in the region and build congenial abode of living for all people of Assam and the region,” it added.
