Christian group calls on Assam Governor, seeks action against anti-Christian elements

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 11, 2024

Miffed with threats by Hindu radical groups and the passage of the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024 by the Assam Legislative Assembly, United Christian Forum (UCF) of Golaghat on Monday moved Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria seeking his intervention into the situation and deal with the people and organizations indulging in anti-Christian activities so that venom of hatred dies not find a place in society.

UCF Golaghat is an umbrella body of all Christian churches of Golaghat district of Upper Assam which was formed in 2020, to foster unity, equality, freedom, peace and harmony among all sections of people and religious groups in the country.

A delegation of UCF Golaghat led by its president Jidan Aind and secretary Leander Toppo called on Kataria at Raj Bhawan here on Monday and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

The Hindu groups portrayed Christianity as a diabolical force to destroy Hindu native culture and to convert Hindus to Christianity. In Assam, Christians make up 3.74 per cent of the population, exceeding the national average of 2.3 per cent.

Of late, a Hindu radical group Kutumba Surakshya Parishad demanded Christian missionaries remove idols and photographs of Jesus and Mary as well as churches located in school complexes. The outfit has claimed that the move is aimed at preventing Christian missionaries from using schools for conversion activities.

“Kutumba Surakhya Parishad has given a 15-day deadline to all Christian schools and demanded the removal of Christian symbols including the religious habits of priests and nuns on school campuses. The outfit also demanded that churches located within the complex be removed. They also alleged that schools are used for conversion activities. This is, without doubt, a bizarre and baseless claim but a disturbing one, which is unprecedented,” the memorandum said.

“This group also threatened to storm into campuses without any hesitation if the missionary schools failed to comply with their demand or face dire consequences,” the memorandum said.

“Encouraged by such blatant accusations and warnings, a Christian nun who was travelling in a bus between Goalpara and Dudhnoi was off-loaded on February 17 by the conductor after she was jeered and mocked for her faith and her dress by the bus conductor and the passengers. The helpless woman was thus asked to get down from the bus in an isolated location, unmindful of her safety and security. The inhumane treatment subsequently attracted a discussion even in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, which only reinforces the seriousness of the incident,:” the UCF said in the memorandum.

 “We are disappointed over the government’s silence over certain developments where Christians and their institutions are being targeted by certain organizations. We feel that such activities have the potential to not only create enmity between people but also disturb the peace in the state,” they said. 

“We therefore urge the government to take necessary steps to reign down on the disturbing signs in the state since anything that happens in the state will always have a spill-over effect on other states as well,” they also said. 

Another Hindu outfit Hindiu Yuva Chatra Parishad at a press meet on March 2 at Jagiroad demanded the Assam government to ban all missionary schools in the state.

In December 2023, the Assam unit of Janajati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Mancha (JDSSM) made an unreasonable demand that tribal people who have now become Christians should be delisted from the country’s recognized list of Scheduled Tribe (ST). The call has caused much anger, concern and fear psychosis amongst many tribal Christians in the state.

The UCF alleged that the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024 which was passed in the Assam Legislative Assembly on February 26 has certain misleading terms like ‘magical healing’ or ‘magic healing’ which has the potential to target the Christian community as simple prayer services may also be interpreted as a healing session and action taken against people involved. Also, these terms being made the soul of the Bill, we see a a deliberate attempt to discourage Christians from practising their faith.

“Christians since its inception have significantly contributed to nation-building, particularly in education, health, employment and social services. The inclusive nature of Christian institutes is noteworthy, with a majority of students being from the Hindu community. Though non-Christian students spend years studying in Christian schools and colleges, they remain Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs etc, which exemplifies that besides education, there are no other intentions,” the Christian leader said. 

“The allegations that these institutions are being used as centres of conversion lacks merit,” they further said.

The memorandum also said that Article 25 of the Constitution of India guarantees the freedom of conscience, and the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion to all citizens. It is this fundamental right that enables citizens to choose their faith, practice and propagate without fear. We see no reason why a particular religion, Christianity should be subjected to undue pressure in the state from where all other sister states of Northeast were created. We feel that such selective targeting jeopardizes peace, harmony, and peace co-existence of all sections of people and religious groups in the state.

The UCF urged the Governor to direct the civil and police authorities to promptly and cognizance of such activities and actions taken under the law for attempting to disturb peace and public order.

“The use of controversial terms in the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024 be reconsidered and the controversial terms in the Bill removed to prevent misinterpretation by vested interest elements,” the memorandum further said. 

“Peace and legacy which we have inherited from our ancestors and which we believe that it is the solemn duty of every citizen of the country to be upheld and safeguarded regardless of any community or religious groups,” they added.