Why is State govt not objecting to Good Governance Day?

Churches, Tribe Hohos, NGOs disappointed with the Nagaland Government for its silence on the issue

  Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 17  

Christian leaders of different denominations, leaders of different Tribal Hohos, NGOs and concerned citizens on Saturday expressed disappointment with the Nagaland Government for not raising its voice over the decision of the Government of India to observe December 25 as Good Governance Day.  

A representation addressed to Nagaland Chief Minister stated that the GoI declaring the “Good Friday” as Judges’ Day, “Fathers Day” as Yoga Day and “Christmas Day” as Good Governance Day was adopted without much thought and sensitivity which infringed upon the Christian calendared days observed over the years hurting the beliefs, sentiments, sensitivity and peace of mind of the peace loving Christian community.  

he representation maintained that this amounts to total disregard, neglect, discrimination and denial of our fundamental constitutional rights to religious practices. Despite this, the representation said Nagaland, as a Christian majority state should have been the first State to raise objection.

It pointed out that all over the country different Church denominations and organizations have raised their voices against fixing the Good Governance Day on Christmas Day, including different political parties. While some North Eastern State governments have voiced their objections and the BJP of Meghalaya is observing the Good Governance Day on December 23, the Government of Mizoram has announced that it shall not observe the same on Christmas Day.  

The representation maintained that the Christian community understands that a great liberal Indian in the stature of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was born on Christmas Day and the nation paying homage to him on his birthday during his lifetime is appreciated.   However, declaring it as the Government’s Good Governance Day knowing full well that it happens to be Christmas Day and is observed as the most revered, worship and celebration day for the last two millennia by the Christians has hurt the minds and sentiments of the Christians of the State and the country, it observed.  

Stating that it is not too late for the State Government, the representation has appealed to the Chief Minister to raise objection to the Christmas Day as Good Governance Day and observed the same on any day other that the Christmas Day.  

The representation was appended by representatives from Nagaland Tribes Council, Nagaland Baptist Council of Churches, Nagaland Senior Citizen Association, Sumi Hoho, Salvation Army Churches, Kuki Baptist Church, Garo Baptist Church, Nepali Baptist Church, Central Christian Revival Church, Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjum, Khedi Baptist Church, Sumi Baptist Church Kohima, Zeme Baptist Church Kohima and Police Union Baptist Church.