Dimapur, June 11 (MExN): Following the Nagaland Government’s decision to allow religious places to open, the Diocese of Kohima and the Muslim Council Dimapur today issued separate statements to work out safety modalities before opening up their places of worship. The Diocese of Kohima issued a statement on June 11 stating that they will continue to maintain the closure of places of worship until wider consultation is done on the same.
“Before we decide to open our Churches for public worship, we need to make sure that we are able to adhere to the provisions and conditions stipulated about it,” a statement from Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima said. It also noted the need to sensitize and train people to observe the provisions of the law. In this regard, the Diocese requested to keep the ‘status quo’ of not opening the religious places until further information is given out.
Meanwhile a statement from the MCD Working President, A Rahman called for a meeting of all Jama Masjids committees in Dimapur on June 14 at 10 am in New Market Jama Masjid complex. Only one representative from each Jama Masjid are requested to attend the meeting. The MCD informed that the meeting will discuss the guidelines in details issued by the Government through wider consultation and see whether the guideline can be followed in practical terms or not before arriving at a decision to open the Masjids. Till then all the Masjids in Dimapur should remain closed, the MCD stated.
