Kohima: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has ignited a political firestorm by vehemently criticizing the Nagaland government’s decision to issue official transfer orders on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025. The party has labeled the move as an unprecedented act of insensitivity, particularly given the religious significance of the day for the state’s Christian population.
The core of the NPCC’s grievance lies in the timing of the transfer directives, which were released under Notification No. PAR-4/6/2020/B and Notification No. PAR-4/6/2020/A. According to the Congress, this marks the first time since Nagaland’s statehood in 1963 that such official government orders have been issued on a Sunday, a day traditionally reserved for religious observance. Palm Sunday, which heralds the beginning of Holy Week, holds profound spiritual meaning for Christians.
In an official statement, the NPCC articulated its dismay, asserting that the issuance of these orders on such a sacred day displays a blatant disregard for the religious sentiments of the Naga Christian community. The party warned that this action sets a perilous precedent that must be prevented from recurring.
Adding another layer of concern, the NPCC also voiced apprehensions about the growing influence of Hindutva ideology within the state’s governance. The party urged the government to resist the encroachment of ideologies and policies propagated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which they deem foreign to the beliefs and values of the Naga people.
The NPCC has issued a firm demand for the state government to immediately review or rescind the controversial notifications. Furthermore, the party called for enhanced sensitivity in administrative decisions, particularly those that intersect with the religious and cultural identity of the Naga populace.
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