TURA: The only Christian face in the BJP-led government at the centre, Tourism minister K J Alphons, who arrived on his maiden visit to Tura met with several church leaders from the Garo Hills.
On his arrival, he called on the Bishop of Tura, Rev Andrew R Marak at Bishop House and later interacted with church elders from the Garo Baptist Convention and the Church of North India at the circuit house.
Prominent among those who met with Alphons included the President of the A’chik Baptist Dalgipa Krima Aloysius G Momin, ABDK general secretary Rev. Janang R Sangma, Pastor of Tura Baptist Church Rev. Wetterfield Marak and Pastor of Hawakhana Baptist Church Rev. Frithing Sangma.
While the interaction was termed by the party as warm and cordial, there were some apprehensions raised by some of the church members.
“Yes there was some apprehension and fears about what was appearing on social media. I clarified the issues with them because 99 percent of social media news is fake. When the BJP was going to come to power in 2014 there were apprehensions that churches would be burnt and Christians would be beaten to death. There has not been one instance where a church was burnt or Christians attacked anywhere in the country after Modi came to power,” said Alphons.
He added that he was a practicing Christian and despite not being a member of parliament he was made a minister in the Modi cabinet.
“This shows it’s an all inclusive cabinet,” said Alphons while praising the efforts of the central government in securing the release of abducted priest Fr. Tom from Yemen, ensuring the safe release of Fr. Prem Kumar from Afghanistan, Sr. D’souza and the nurses from Libya and Iraq.
