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TURA: The rejection of visa application to a Christian preacher by the Indian Consulate in South Africa who was schedule to attend 150 years of Christianity amongst the Garo Baptists at Rajasimla in North Garo Hills has led to an uproar amongst the community in Garo Hills. The President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Dr Paul Msize, who is also the religious head of the Baptist World Community was scheduled to make a tourism visit to Meghalaya and also witness the five-day religious celebration which began from Wednesday and will culminate in a special church service on Sunday. He was due to travel from Johannesburg in South Africa. An official release from the Baptist organisation said that Dr. Msiza had applied for visa on January 29 and was informed of the rejection in the evening of February 7. In poll-bound Meghalaya the issue has taken a political colour with social media users terming it as “anti – Christian” attitude of the BJP government. “It was shocking to get the news of rejection of the Visa by the Indian Consulate. We are extremely disappointed that we are going to miss the Global head of the Baptist Christian community on this historic occasion. The BWA President for us is the Pastoral head of the Baptists Community worldwide like His Holiness the Pope of the Catholic community” said a Baptist leader. The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 in London during the first Baptist World Congress. The Baptist World Alliance maintains ecumenical relations with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma has condemned the rejection of the visa application for Dr. Msiza and termed it as an agenda of the central government against the Christian communities. “Where are the voices of dissent within the NDA allies? It is the time we seek answers from those in power. I extend my full support to my people in Garo Hills. It is unfortunate that a spiritual leader of this stature cannot attend the Garo Baptist Convention’s celebrations at Rajasimla and I demand that this is resolved at the earliest”, the social media post of chief minister read. However, Union Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons clarified that the preacher’s visa application has already been reopened to facilitate his arrival to India to attend the celebration. “Nalin Kohli was informed about it yesterday morning and I was informed about it in the afternoon. We immediately took up the matter at our level with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who in turn had personally called Indian Consulate in South Africa to reopen the application at the earliest”, said Alphons. A message on the social media which has gone viral read — “Sad day for the people of Meghalaya … shocked that despite follow ups with higher ups in the central government and some BJP top politicians of Centre and state, the BJP government has displayed their anti-Christian attitude by rejecting the visa for the honourable religious head of the Baptist Christian community who can be notionally equated with His Excellency the Pope. Sabka sath, sabka vikash??” Clarifying the claims of the social media message Alphons said, “They (Baptist organisation) never got in touch with BJP leaders, I am in Meghalaya and nobody rang me up regarding the issue. Yesterday I had a long chat with a senior Baptist leader of the country but they never discussed about any visa application”. Terming that the issue is being “communalized” Alphons said, “Everyday hundreds of people are denied visa irrespective of their religious background. America and Europe rejects 50 per cent visa application but why a single application is being singled out to term us (BJP) as anti-Christian. Ministry of external affairs has to follow standard protocol”. Alphons clarified that reason for rejection was because of a mistake filed in the application. “We are reviewing the application as a complaint has been lodged. We believe that it is incumbent on the government to take into consideration the sentiments of the society as he was the President of the World Baptist Alliance”, he added while saying that Congress party was going overboard to politicize the issue. Earlier, Tura Lok Sabha MP Conrad K. Sangma had also written to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking her immediate intervention on the issue. |
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