Dimapur, January 4 (MExN): Strongly protesting the recent attack on the Christian communities in Orrisa and the violation of their constitutional right to the freedom of religion, the Nagaland Christian Forum (NCF) on January 2 submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India urging him to take the necessary steps to identify and punish those who are responsible for it, so that the law abiding citizens of this nation will be secured.
“We consider this (attack on Christians in Orrisa) as an attack on the Secular character of the Indian Constitution and a crime against humanity,” the Nagaland Christian Forum, in the memorandum which was appended by ten members led by its President, Rev. L. Bizo.
Asserting that the killing arson and wanton destruction of sacred places of worship and property were executed in a preplanned manner, the NCF urged the Prime Minister to take the necessary steps to identify and punish those who are responsible for it, so that the law abiding citizens of this nation will be secured.
Also, the NCF expressed deep dismay at the Government of Orrisa and said that the response of the state government has been far from satisfactory. “The relief work in many of the interior villages is yet to begin. We are told that the police is not permitting the relief workers to access to these villages in the pretext of law and order,” the NCF alleged.
Lamenting that the perpetrators of the crime against the Christian community in Orrisa have justified the attack on the ground that it is a reaction to forced conversion, the NCF asserted that the Christian community does not subscribe to the tune of forced conversion because no body can be converted against ones will in a civilized world.
“We therefore earnestly appeal to your good office to act without hesitation against any person or groups who are threatening the secular fabric of our country,” the NCF beseeched the PM while enlightening the Prime Minister that in Nagaland, people belonging to all communities and religions living together in perfect harmony.
The NCF therefore, on behalf of the Christian Community of Nagaland strongly protested against, what it called the communal forces that are dividing our nation on communal lines and at the same time requested the government of India to uphold the spirit of the Constitution to build a nation of equality, liberty and fraternity.
“We affirm trust and commitment to the cherished values of secularism and pluralistic character of our nation. We consider that without them, we shall perish as a nation,” the NCF added.
CFD appeals Christian to contribute to relief efforts
Expressing solidarity with the persecuted Christian community in Orissa, the Christian Forum Dimapur today appealed the Christian community to contribute generously towards the relief efforts of the victims of violence perpetrated against the Christians in Orissa.
“The latest figure of causalities as per the All India Christian Council is 9 persons killed over 90 churches, schools, hostels and convents have been destroyed and over 5000 Christians still live in fear , hunger and cold,”. Christian Forum Dimapur said a press release while making the appeal for generous contribution for the relief efforts in Orissa.
“We urge the Christian community to contribute generously towards the relief efforts of the victims of violence,” the CFD said while informing that the fund so collected could be forwarded to the respective church offices in Orissa.
The Forum assured that it would make the necessary arrangements if incase any church finds it difficult to reach the collected fund. The Christian Forum Dimapur also renewed its appealed to all the churches in Nagaland to observe next Sunday, January 6 as a day of prayer for the Christians in Orissa. “We request the Pastors and church leaders to pass on this information to those who have not received it and motivate them for this act of solidarity”, the Forum stated.
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