Kohima, October 15 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today outrightly denied and condemned what it termed as the “baseless allegations put forth” by Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton that the Congress is “anti-Christian party.”
He reportedly made the allegation with reference to the Congress’ stand on the recent conflagration in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
A press statement from the NPCC maintained that Patton’s take on the issue “wrong on so many levels.”
Among others, the NPCC stated out that the Congress Party has officially condemned the brutal attack on the people of Israel, in the clearest of terms possible.
Instead, it accused Patton of picking up a” tragic incident happening somewhere halfway across the globe and uses it to conjure and stir up a communal cauldron back home.”
“Considering the nature of the accusation, coming from the ideologue of a party that prides itself on ‘Teaching a Lesson’ to the minority communities of the country, one cannot help but marvel at the irony of the situation,” the Party asserted.
The NPCC further pointed out that “condemning or supporting either Israel or Palestine is in no way a reflection on either being ‘For’ or ‘Anti’ Christianity.”
Neither Israel nor Palestine is a Christian State and if at all the Deputy CM aspires to lend his voice in favour of the Christians stuck in the conflict zone, it should start from a place that acknowledges the fact that at present Christians constitute a mere 1.5%-2% of the total population of both Israel and Palestine, it maintained.
“They historically been victims of both intended as well as unintended persecution, on both sides of the border, comparatively more so from the actions of Israel,” it added.
The Israel - Palestine conflict is also a protracted and complicated matter, and the only path to solution is through peaceful dialogues and negotiations, the NPCC added,
The NPCC further stated that Indian National Congress has always espoused the spirit of equality and unity in diversity, and has endeavored to foster mutual respect among all faiths.
“We have, and we will continue to condemn and oppose any agenda that breeds religious bigotry and incite hatred along communal lines, both within the confines of our borders and beyond,” it added.
