Move to expel ex-pastor from church body biased: Mizoram BJP

GUWAHATI: The Mizoram BJP has termed the move to expel a former pastor and party candidate in the November 28 Assembly elections by the Mission For Christ (MFC), an established missionary training centre in the state, as “biased”.
Rev L R Colney, an executive member of the church body and a “full time missionary,” who will be contesting the polls from Aizawl East I constituency, was expelled a couple of days back by MFC apparently for “taking part in politics”.
“The move smacks of double standards as the MFC has not taken any action against Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate, R Lalthangliana, who is also an executive member of the para church,” a spokesperson of Mizoram BJP told The Shillong Times on Thursday.
Colney too had failed to fathom why the MFC president, Rev Lalchungnunga took the step. He claimed that “BJP is not anti-Christian. Many people in the Northeast think that BJP is anti-Christian, which is a misunderstanding.”
MFC president, Rev Lalchungnunga, while trying to justify his action against Rev Colney, said, “There is no politics behind the move. Colney is a full time missionary and cannot take part in politics unlike Lalthangliana who is only an executive member,” said Lalchungnunga said.
BJP, which is going alone and contesting all the 40 seats, has also chosen another member from the church, Rev Lalruata to contest from Lunglei East constituency.
Lalruata is a member of the United Pentecostal Mission and his organisation colleagues have “appreciated” his decision to join BJP.