Meghalaya CM hits out at Modi government for rejecting Church leader's visa


Shillong, Feb 9 (IANS): Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday hit out at NDA Central government for rejecting the visa application of Baptist World Alliance chief, Reverend Paul Msiza, to attend the 150 years celebrations of Christianity in the state's Garo Hills region.

"It is highly condemnable to reject the visa application of a global religious leader to attend the sesquicentenary celebrations of Christianity organized by the Garo Baptist Convention.

"In the past, many religious leaders be it Pope (John Paul II) or Dalai Lama or Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have visited Meghalaya without any objection. We have never opposed to any of their visit since we have no hidden agenda," Sangma said, adding the step only demonstrates the hidden agenda of the BJP government against the Christians and other religious communities.

The Garo Baptist Convention is celebrating 150 years of Christianity at Rajasimla in East Garo Hills from February 8-11. The Baptist Church set foot in Garo Hills at Rajasimla in 1867.

The BJP which is trying to unseat the ruling Congress in Christian-dominated state, said that the issue is being "communalized".

"Why are you giving this a communal and religious angle. Countries like England and Canada rejects visas to so many people irrespective of their religion. So does it mean these countries are anti-Christians. Ministry of External Affairs has to follow a standard protocol," said Union Tourism Minister K.J.Alphons.

Condemning the development, Hill State People's Democratic Party President, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said: "BJP is not a secular party.... This is not the first time that the BJP government is not allowing the foreign Christian missionaries to visit India. We do not know why the BJP is so against the Christians communities in India."

The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 in London.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article


Leave a Comment

Title: Meghalaya CM hits out at Modi government for rejecting Church leader's visa



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.