Shillong, Nov 4: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today defended his government from criticism, saying that support for two Gospel concerts in Shillong and Tura is part of his administration’s secular approach to encourage celebrations of all communities.
The Shillong concert will be organised by the Presbyterian Church and the other in Tura by the Baptist Church.
There has been criticism from the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Seiñ Niamtre Ki Khynnah Purae for the government’s extension of support to the religious concert.
Sangma said that the Presbyterian Church and Baptist Church came for help and the government decided on supporting them. He added that even the Bihari community in Tura is celebrating 100 years of Chhath Puja and the CM has extended support to them too.
The government’s role is to support the people and be part of their celebrations in a neutral manner, Sangma added. The same approach is followed for all faiths, including Durga Puja, where MLAs and the government extend support in different ways, he said, and this is how the secular fabric of the nation is celebrated.
The Chief Minister also said he has directed that programmes under Meghalayan Age be held daily at the Meghalayan Age Pavilion for tourists and that gospel songs be included on Sundays. He said young local artists performed gospel songs at the pavilion this past Sunday and the performances are free for tourists.
Meanwhile, the Seiñ Niamtre Shillong expressed strong opposition today to the decision of the Meghalaya government to hold and support the Gospel concerts.
Budwanmi Dkhar, general secretary of the Seiñ Niamtre Ki Khynnah Purae (SNKKP), in a statement sent to the media, said the organisation respects the right of every faith to worship and celebrate freely but opposes government involvement in it.
It said the majority of Christians among the population does not make Meghalaya a Christian state, just as the majority of Hindus does not make India a Hindu nation.
“Followers of Niamtre, Niam Khasi and Songsarek, the traditional beliefs of the land, are citizens and taxpayers of the state on equal footing,” the SNKKP said.
Yesterday, the VPP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, Batskhem Myrboh, on his Facebook page said, “If it does for one group, it has to do the same for all other groups. India, including Meghalaya, should be secular. Religion is best left in the hands of private groups.”
