By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 2: Amid growing concerns over reported incidents of harassment, intimidation, and vandalism targeting Christian communities across several states during the Christmas season—including the notable vandalism of decorations at St. Mary’s English School in Nalbari, Assam, by individuals affiliated with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal—the National People’s Party (NPP) has strongly condemned the acts while the state BJP has rejected claims that minorities are unsafe under the current regime.
NPP state working president Hamletson Dohling announced that the party will urge the Meghalaya government to write to concerned state governments, demanding serious action to safeguard India’s secular character.
“We strongly condemn these incidents and assert that they must not recur. We do not accept and cannot tolerate such incidents,” Dohling said, adding that he had conveyed the party’s concerns directly to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
He stressed that India respects all religions and that mutual respect is essential, warning that unchecked actions by extremists could erode the nation’s secular fabric. Both state and central governments, he said, must ensure accountability.
NPYF national president Nicky Nongkhlaw, who wrote to the Chief Minister urging the issue be raised with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, described the incidents as the work of misguided individuals misunderstanding secularism. He noted the Northeast’s tradition of peaceful coexistence, including respect for Hindu rituals, and highlighted that members of the Hindu community have publicly distanced themselves from the actions of certain VHP and Bajrang Dal-linked individuals on social media.
In response, state BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna dismissed allegations that minorities feel insecure under the BJP-led government, asserting that minority communities have benefited significantly from its policies and that the party does not condone violence against any religious group.
Pohshna pointed out that swift action, including arrests, has been taken in reported cases, such as in Assam following complaints. He described the perpetrators as fringe elements whose actions should not be generalised as systemic issues, noting that such elements exist across society. Regarding one circulated video of an individual threatening a pastor, he claimed the person was identified as an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh and dealt with accordingly.
On the potential impact on the BJP’s image in Christian-majority Meghalaya, Pohshna acknowledged past organisational challenges but expressed optimism that the Modi government’s grassroots work would strengthen the party’s position over time.
Leaders from both parties emphasised the need for unity, mutual respect, decisive action against perpetrators, and preservation of India’s secular ethos to ensure all citizens can practice their faith freely and with dignity.
