Guwahati: In the wake of this month’s state elections in Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, Christian leaders from various parts of Assam and the North East region have issued a call for the people of the region to be vigilant against threats to the protections and freedoms that the Indian Constitution provides for its citizens.
A meeting was held in Guwahati last Friday with a commitment to solidarity with one another and those who are discriminated against.
The leaders discussed occurrences against Christians throughout the nation, such as hate speech, violence against individuals and groups, desecration of property and places of worship, and violence against persons and groups.
“Brutality and crime like the murder of Graham Staines in Odisha more than 20 years ago, barbaric abuses of human rights against Christian communities in Kandhamal in 2008 and many innumerable more in different parts of the country especially in States where the ruling dispensation remain consensually silent against the perpetrators of these acts,” a press statement reads.
The Christian leaders also asserted that since a few years ago, there have been more atrocities committed against Christians and churches, many more of which go unreported, as well as recent incidences in this area with the “authorised census” targeting Christians in Assam.
“In the guise of clearing encroachments on the forests, worship places are destroyed, eviction and displacement of Boro families and communities who are indigenous settlers have taken place and the majority of the members are Christians. Meanwhile, what cannot go unnoticed is that hundreds of acres of tribal land and resources are being handed over to persons and groups alien to the region which is an effort towards the economic exploitation of our region, especially the land and assets of the weaker communities by the dominating groups who are trying to gain control and power in targeted locations. A fear is being expressed about the sinister threat of removing the ST status from Tribal Christians and others which will effectively take away the constitutional rights and status of the indigenous citizen of the land,” the statement added.
Churches, institutions, and Christian centres are being harassed with excessive inquiries, unwarranted requirements, and warnings, according to the leaders, despite government authorities’ denials that they intend to meddle with residents’ decisions regarding their religion, faith, and practises.
The leaders in the press statement highlighted the fact that tribal people of the North-east have always respected personal choices, cultural and religious differences and have never been influenced by communal prejudices in any other part of the country. “Things like encounter killings or harsh treatment of dissenters have never been in our tradition. The bulldozer culture that has recently been introduced is only a tool of humiliation and cowardice,” the leaders said in the statement.
It also urges the voters not succumb to false promises and short-term allurements. “As individual voters, one must judiciously exercise the electoral privilege while casting votes. One should be guided by informed and a clear conscience and elect able leaders who are just and fair, who shun corrupt practices, and those who are trustworthy and committed to the unity and good of our community and the nation,” said the Christian leaders.
The leaders who attended this meeting represent the National Boro Christian Council (NBCC), Assam Baptist Convention (ABC), Boro Baptist Church Association (BBCA), Karbi Anglong Baptist Convention (KABC), All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO), Catholic Church, UCF Karbi Anglong, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), North Bank Baptist Christian Association (NBBCA), Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF), Christ Church Guwahati (CNI), Assam Christian Forum (ACF), CCFNEI, Boro Baptist Convention (BBC).