Rising People’s Party (RPP) seeks clarification on RSS-backed Bharatiya Christian Manch (BCM) pre-Christmas programme held at Nagaland House, New Delhi
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
A pre-Christmas programme of the Nagaland State’s Bharatiya Christian Manch (BCM) on the theme “For Unto Us A Child Is Born”, was held on Wednesday at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur, with BJP National Vice-president and BCM Advisor, Nagaland, M Chuba Ao, as the special guest.
Bharatiya Christian Manch (BCM) made its presence felt in the State only in the month of April this year with the launching of the same with 15 members as state executives.
In his address, Chuba said the programme itself is a rare occasion where all, irrespective of religions have gathered to celebrate in spreading the love, peace and harmony which according to him is the need of the hour.
Justifying that BCM is an NGO and not to be mistaken for the political stronghold in the country (BJP), Chuba said it was started in faith for “secularism” to respect each other’s religion and to respect each other.
Stating that India being the only nation with multi-lingual, religions and the only country in the world with diversity, Chuba encouraged the gathering to let the people from other places take an example by showing that Nagaland is a place where people from diverse cultures, tradition, and religions co-exist together in harmony, love and peace.
In his short speech, Director, Peace Channel, Dimapur, Rev Anto Paul, said that goodwill should be inculcated as it binds the people, state and the nation and when it is transferred, the outcome of it would be nothing but “peace”.
Stating that Nagaland is the most “tolerant” state in the country, a model state when it comes to “religion tolerance”, Rev Anto said that everyone should be a catalyst and a messenger of peace and harmony so that the Country would look upon Nagaland as a place where people live in peace and harmony.
Insisting upon that nobody should be killed in the name of religion, Rev Anto Paul also urged upon to understand the humaneness in everyone and to invite the values of forgiveness.
Welcoming the gathering, BCM convener, Nagaland, Er. Longshi Kikon, disclosed that though BCM has been active since the last five years in the Country but in the state it is in its nascent stage as it was only launched in April this year.
He said that the concept behind BCM is based on the Christian value of “peace and love” and also to disseminate the same irrespective of faith, culture, traditions and to build a bridge within the different communities, denominations irrespective of colour, caste and religion.
Earlier, the programme chaired by executive member, BCM, Nagaland, O Atila Phom, started with an invocation prayer pronounced by Pastor, Phom Baptist Church, Burma Camp, Dimapur, Hamba Namdakly, a special song was presented by Asher, Christmas message was shared by Rev AT Patton, while vote of thanks was proposed by BCM Nagaland co-convener, Dr Temsuwati Lkr.
RPP seeks clarification RSS backed programme in Nagaland House, New Delhi
Meanwhile, the Rising People’s Party (RPP), Nagaland, has sought clarification from the Nagaland government on the RSS backed programme held recently at Nagaland House, New Delhi.
According to RPP, Nagaland, it was reported that on December 16, the RSS-backed Bharatiya Christian Manch (BCM) had organized a pre-Christmas programme at Nagaland House, New Delhi, where RSS leader Indresh Kumar was reported to have passed remarks on conversion provoking angry reactions from United Christian Forum (UCF), an umbrella body of Christian organizations that monitors human rights violation against Christians in India.
RPP Nagaland in a press statement said the December 16 programme seems to have been a propaganda meeting propagating a political agenda where the controversial programme made headlines in most of the national daily newspapers.
“This avoidable controversy has soiled the image of Nagaland for which the state government is solely responsible”, it stated while also adding that the RPP strongly condemn the usage of Nagaland House for religious propaganda and political party activities.
It stated that except for official functions of the state government, no Nagaland House in any part of India is permitted to allow political party activities within its premises and such is highly condemnable.
Questioning who has authorized the use of Nagaland House for hosting the “politically inclined so-called Pre-Christmas celebration, and who were the state co-organizers of the programme”, the RPP Nagaland said the state government is expected to issue a clarification on the issue.
“Given the ramifications, the state government should apologize to the people of the state. Secondly, it should immediately issue a notification debarring such activities in Nagaland Houses’ in the future”, said RPP Nagaland.