By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 8: The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum (KJCLF) on Wednesday registered its strong objection to the state government’s move to “appease one religion” by way of consecration of the first state university.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, KJCLF secretary Edwin H Kharkongor said Meghalaya government should be ranked first in the country for its “ostentatious” and “garish” display of its intention to inaugurate a secular state university with a zealously proposed Christian religious ceremony.
According to him, the state is famous for hosting flamboyant festivals which often reach levels of exclusiveness and extortion, and popular for conducting countless inaugurations.
He said that it is tragically sad that Meghalaya ranks among the lowest in the country on the status and level of education.
The KJCLF secretary said that setting up institutions of higher education is greatly appreciated and must be supported.
“However the fanfare surrounding the proposed inauguration of the Captain Williamson Sangma State University on January 13 and the ruckus it has already created is certainly far from Christian or any religious principle for that matter. In our country, religion and faith are in the personal realms of the individual, and we share in the fraternal relationships of secularism as enshrined in the Indian Constitution,” Kharkongor said.
He further observed that as Christian leaders, they believe that the zeal and time of Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma and resources of the Conrad Sangma-led government should be better channelised into improving the efficiency of the Education department and timely redressal of the needs of the students and teachers in the state.
According to the KJCLF leader, education should promote compassion and respect and evoke hope for a better future.
“We wish to see our state and central governments manifest the values of commitment and dedication in its service to the learning and teaching of its citizens,” he added.