Kohima, December 20 (MExN): The opposition towards observing Good Governance Day on December 25 is growing with more organizations, including Naga Hoho, appealing to change the date today.
Naga Hoho: Naga Hoho maintained that declaration of December 25 as Good Governance Day by the Government of India is “an act of breach of Constitution undermining the sentiments of Christian institutions, particularly in Nagaland, where we find 90.02% Christians.” Naga people including government employees celebrate Christmas with yearlong preparation, it pointed out.
A press release from the Hoho general secretary, Mutsikhoyo Yhobu and president, P. Chuba Ozukum further appealed to the Governor and Chief Minister of Nagaland to formulate policies and issue directives, particularly to the government employees, to observe Christmas with peace of mind along with the rest of Christian community in the world.
It opined that secularism in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state. “With the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the preamble to the constitution asserted that India is a secular nation. Thus, India is a country where we have various denominations and religious practices in different regions or states,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Hoho appreciated the Chief Minister of Nagaland for writing to the Prime Minister of India on the matter. It also mentioned that the Hoho delegation expressed unhappiness to the Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on November 29, 2016 for declaring December 25 as Good Governance Day and further requested him to take up the matter with Government of India on behalf of the people in the North East.
NCRC: Supporting the various organisations, especially from the Christian community, for voicing out against observing December 25 as Good Governance Day, Nagaland Christian Revival Church (NCRC) has expressed that if government does not listen to the wishes of the people, “a black spot will always remain on the birthday of our great leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee which falls on the same day since Christians may be exempted from observing the day as Good Governance Day.” NCRC president, Rev. Dr. N Paphino in a press release added that the church is not against observance of the Good Governance Day, but “the choice of December 25 is disrespect of the sacred religious which is very insecure to the minority section of India.”
APO: In a separate statement, Angami Public Organisation (APO) stated that to observe Good Governance Day on December 25 is a “direct insult” to religious sentiments of Christians, however small or minor the community is, in India. APO general secretary, Keviselie Lhousa and vice president, KT Vilie mentioned that the observation of December 25 as the birthday of Christ is of great religious significance to the Christians and therefore the day is a national holiday for Christians throughout the world.
Meanwhile, APO has expressed appreciation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland for writing to the GOI to change the date of the Good Governance Day, which it said may not be adequate to protect the right of the people.
APO further requested the Chief Minister and Speaker to have a special Assembly Session to make resolution to differ the Good Governance Day in order to ensure and assure the Christians that “our great India respects the religion of its minority citizens.”
