A group of Christian leaders from Shillong met with Governor Satya Pal Malik here today as they are concerned by national trends to turn Christians in the country into aliens.
The Christian community representatives included Rev EH Kharkongor, the Secretary of the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum, Rev Fr Richard Majaw, Vicar General of the Shillong Archdiocese, Rev Himanshu Christian, Presbyter of All Saints Cathedral and RO Wallang a Presbyterian layman.
The group submitted a letter to convey upon the Governor that Christianity has been a part of the culture and life of India for 2,000 years now and, since that time, Christian institutions and individuals have contributed so much to our country and continue to do so in the fields of education and health, development of marginal communities and in nation building.
The delegation reminded Malik that Christians make up only 2.3 percent of the population and have always had “a harmonious existence with all citizens of different faiths and communities in the land.”
“This mutual respect, trust and goodwill is however severely threatened by prejudice, malice, hatred and violence against Christian churches and Christian citizens all over the country in the last two decades, and more intensely so at the present time on different aspects and levels,” a press release added.
They drew the Governor’s attention to criminal and unlawful acts perpetrated against Christians, “from the killing and maiming of missionaries and pastors, to the banishment from their abodes by majority communities, to the sacrilegious vandalisation of religious objects and buildings, even to the passing of statutes and government orders restricting a citizen to his/her own choice of faith and belief.”
The group impressed upon Malik to consider and convey this to the leaders and administrators of our country in the states and the central government, which he agreed to do.
