KOHIMA, MAY 3 (MExN): The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has questioned the intention of the BJP over its proposal to undertake cleanliness drive in church compounds of the State on May 11.
“Despite desiring to view the proposal charitably, CAN cannot but question the intention of the BJP due to the following reasons- That the general elections for Lok Sabha are ongoing with 5 of the 7 phases remaining, and any “unusual proposal by a political party bears the burden of being viewed as an election gimmick,” a press release issued by CAN stated on Friday.
It said any plan by a group/party involving another group’s property without consent amounts to, at best, a lack of due respect and, at worst, a disregard of the right to property recognised by the Supreme Court of India as a human right.
“The nation has seen a tremendous rise in atrocities towards Christians in recent years with more than 150 incidents of such violence recorded in the first 3 months of 2024 itself, and we have witnessed the destruction of church properties and whole buildings in the neighbouring States of Assam and Manipur in the past one year. It is difficult to not see a relationship between correlation and causation when the very vast majority of these cases have been in BJP-ruled States with the same party ruling the central government,” the CAN further pointed out.
While reiterating on the apolitical nature and status of the association and the Church, the CAN has entreated the parish priests, heads of institutions, and the lay faithful to continue to be ever wary of proposals or offers, be they incitements or inducements, from political parties.
It, meanwhile, called upon BJP members of the State to earn the goodwill of the people by urging their counterparts in the rest of the country to take positive action against persecution of minorities; to bring justice to victims; and to restore and protect church properties everywhere.
It also urged all the political parties and public servants to uphold the values and freedoms that both the tradition and the Constitution of the nation guarantee to the people.
Declining the proposal, the CAN affirmed that the Catholic Church “reserves her rights over her religious properties including her sacred worship place—the Church—which is cared for in sanctity and with utmost dignity.”
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