From Our Correspondent
TURA: In connection with the recent episode where Government employees were made to work on Easter Sunday, South Tura MLA, John Leslee K Sangma on Thursday evening called a meeting with various church leaders at Palm Dale, Balading Tura.
Legislator John Leslee K Sangma had earlier demanded that the Meghalaya Government should apologize to the people of Meghalaya which happens to be a Christian State and where Easter Sunday is an important occasion for the Christian populace.
All the Christians of the State had every right to be in church on Easter Sunday; however the Meghalaya Government in an outrageous move had failed to see the significance of the occasion and declared Easter Sunday as a working day, hurting the sentiments of the Christian community.
“This is disrespectful to the Christians and it is sheer insolence on the part of the State Government. What the Government of India had given to the people, the State Government is playing the part of snatching it away” said Sangma adding that the Government of India had given each and every citizen of the country to follow and practice ones religion freely.
“I have no grudge or condemnation for the Government but the Christians should take a step forward regarding this indignation and make sure that Sundays are respected and be dedicated to worship the Almighty” said Sangma at the meeting.
Besides condemning the Government for making its employees work on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the leaders of the United Christian Peace Forum (UCPF), Combine Christian Prayer Fellowship and other church leaders also condemned organizing of Wine Festivals in Tura.
The religious leaders said, wine festivals are a bad influence for the young citizens as it is in one way an act of encouraging the youngsters into consuming alcohol.
“Alcohol is already a menace in Garo Hills. Organizing wine festivals are bad examples and is equivalent to showing the children the green signal to consume alcohol” said the church leaders and added that such festivals only spoil the morals and ethics of the children.
Further the Church leaders also condemned opening of the Tura Super Market on Sundays and said it is wrong, since Sundays are meant for worshipping and resting.
Also, State Bank of India conducted an exam on Easter Sunday and various other interviews and exams were held on the same day.
Finally, it was resolved at the meeting that the church leaders would further take up this issue in their respective churches and decide on what steps should be taken.