‘Discrimination against Christians’ concerns Church body

SHILLONG: Concerned over the “growing discrimination against Christians”, the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Khasi  Jaiñtia  Presbyterian  Synod  Sepngi, one of the constituents of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of India with its headquarter in Shillong, has   urged the Centre, States and Union  Territories  to uphold and safeguard the  religious freedom and fundamental rights of  all Indian  citizens as provided in the Constitution.
In a statement issued here, Rev. SS Majaw, the Moderator,  Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi  said that  fellow citizens  should  live  in  religious and communal  harmony  by  respecting  each  other,  one  another’s  religious  beliefs  and  should not  give  space  and  opportunity  for  the destruction of the inter-woven  fabric  of  unity  in  diversity  as  envisaged  by  the  founding  fathers  of the  nation  and  makers  of  India’s  (Contd on P-10)
‘Discrimination against…
(Contd from P-3) Constitution.
The  Khasi  Jaiñtia  Presbyterian  Synod  Sepngi said that it is seized of the  recent  developments  concerning  forced  conversion,  re-conversion  and  proposed  ban  on  conversion.
While  appreciating the HRD  Ministry  for  withdrawing  its advisory to States and directives  to  the Navo Vidyalayas  on  opening  schools  on   December 25 to  observe  “Good  Governance  Day”  as  per  guidelines  given, the Synod said that the Centre should select some other day for  celebration of Good Governance Day since it coincides with Christmas.
The Synod further said that there are many cases of anti-Christian activities in recent months, such as vandalizing Christian worship places, induced  re-conversion,  forced  change  of  nomenclature  of  priests  and  nuns  in certain parts  of the  country,  installing  of  statues  of other gods and goddesses  in  Christian  places  of  worship  and  institutions.
“Such acts create  a sense  of  insecurity  among  the Christians who  are  committed  and  dedicated  to  the  sovereignty  and  integrity  of  the  nation,” the Synod said.