SHILLONG: Six religious groups met BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli on Saturday and expressed their apprehensions about cow slaughter, beef ban, ghar waapsi and atrocities against Christians, among other things.
Though the BJP leader claimed the meeting was not to allay fears but to discuss contentious issues, the religious leaders, while speaking to the media, said they were assured that their apprehensions would be looked into but they would wait and watch to see how the national party act on its promises.
Presbyterian Pastor C. Kharkongor said though he did not see BJP’s hidden agenda in convening the meeting, but concerns over the Citizenship Bill were raised.
“We in Meghalaya are apprehensive as we share border with Bangladesh. We told them that we are not happy with the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016,” said Kharkongor.
He added that the delegation was assured that illegal immigration will not take place. However, the Presbyterian pastors, who went on individual account and not as representatives of the church, said they were not sure how far the party would go to fulfil its assurance.
Among other issues that the pastors raised were role of RSS, cow slaughter, visa categorisation and religious freedom.
“We spoke about the categorisation of visa also,” Pastor A.C Lymba said.
Commenting on the RSS, Kharkongor said, “The arrival of RSS seems like they will divide the indigenous community. They (the BJP) said that they will take care of the matter.”
S.L Marbaniang, a layperson from the Catholic Church who accompanied Fr. John Madur, said they attended the meeting “not because we want to meet him (Kohli) but we were invited by Nalin Kohli and we feel that we should not be so insulting as to reject it”.
Marbaniang, who had a tryst with politics in the past, pointed out that the laypersons in the church have got a greater role to play vis-à-vis the political scenario in the country and that people are protected by the Constitution. “We expressed our feelings, apprehensions regarding the cow slaughter, beef ban, ghar waapsi, Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), the education policy,” he said.
He also raised the issue of atrocities committed against Christian minorities across the country. “He (Kohli) has assured us that these are not members of BJP but criminals. Actions are taken as per law and some are being punished.”
When asked on whether he sees any hidden political agenda of BJP in inviting religious leaders for talks, Marbaniang said, “We don’t know that but we will not allow (anyone) to take our advantage as we are free citizens of a free country and we abide by the Constitution of India.”
He added that there is nothing sinister or malicious on Kohli’s part unless he had any hidden agenda. “But what we see and it is apparent that he wants to coordinate with us.”
Marbaniang informed that they are waiting for a press statement which is an assurance and will see “the deeds that they will be performing”.
Asked whether this will clear the misconception that BJP is not a communal party, he said, “The same issue came up in 1972 when the Congress was in power… there was anti-cow slaughter, freedom of religion bill 1968, expulsion of missionaries etc.”
On the education policy, he said, “We hope that it will not act against the interest of the minorities because the Catholic Church has done a lot of yeoman service in spreading education in the North East.”
Kohli assured that their rights are protected as per Articles 29, 29, 30 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Davis Stone Swer, general secretary of Seng Khihlang from the Seng Khasi, asserted that people practising traditional religion are in minorities and claimed minority benefits under the basis of religion.
Stating that there is only 8.9 per cent of people practising traditional religion in the state as per 2011 census, he said, “We are a minority but till now we are not enjoying any benefits under the category.”
