KJCLF calls govt to be more stringent with activities related to tourism and community relationships

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 27, 2024

The Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum (KJCLF) on Friday called upon the state government, tourism industry, community and religious leaders to be more prudently stringent with the activities related to tourism and community relationships.

This came following the recent incdent at the Mawlynnong church.

“It also calls upon the tourists on their visit to our State to be respectful and sensitive in their explorations and interactions,” KJCLF secretary Rev Dr EH Kharkongor said in a statement. 

He said a video circulating in social media platforms posted by one Akash Sagar showed him braying and howling in front of his two cronies in the backdrop of the lectern in a quiet and serene Church at Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest village. 

“The senseless act of this perverse person invoking the name ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in a holy place of Christian worship has once more enraged the local communities and Christians at large in the region,” he said. 

Rev Kharkongor also said that at a glance this could be seen as a mindless trespassing and encroachment into a place of sanctity by a degraded individual prankster with a twisted and warped ego in an effort of vain self projection!

“However, the location and timing of this incident and broadcast seem to suggest the advancement of an effort to create disharmony, discord and division among ethnic and religious communities by disrespect, insult, and hate solely with the intention to promote the majoritarian agenda. We can recall the recent and ongoing incidents like the effort to intrude into the Mawjymbuiñ Cave at Mawsynram, the Cow Protection Yatra, the offensive remarks on the cultural icon of the Dima Hasao in Haflong, the pre-Christmas threat and intimidation of the road blockade between Assam and Meghalaya, the rude and violent disruption of a School’s Christmas celebration in Palakkad Kerala, the blatant disturbance of Christmas celebration in the vicinity of St Joseph’s Cathedral in Lucknow, the wilful non-resolution of the Manipur imbroglio and many others,”he said.

Meghalaya police registers case against Akash Sagar for violating religious sanctity of Mawlynnong church

“Ironically, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at a recent Christmas celebrations hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in Delhi stated that ‘it pains his heart when there are attempts to spread violence in society’. He had highlighted that ‘the teachings of Lord Christ celebrate love, harmony, brotherhood; and it is important that we all work to make this spirit stronger’. Yet he failed to address and control issues of hatred and divisions shrouded in the garb of religious and ethnic polarisations as seen in Manipur and other places in the country,” Rev Kharkongor stated further.