The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put as much distance as possible from the demand by an Assam-based group for the removal of a statue of Jesus Christ and other Christian imagery at a school in Ri-Bhoi.
Last month, an organisation calling itself the Karbi Traditional Faith Association (KTFA) threatened to demolish the statue if the demand is not adhered to. Another group, the Sanmilita Sanatan Samaj, also from Assam, had made a similar demand of Christian schools in the neighbouring state.
Former state BJP president Ernest Mawrie told Highland Post that he condemns such behaviour “if it’s true”.
“We will not tolerate such a thing because the BJP also respects all other religions and here in the BJP there are Christians, Muslims, Jains and others. We will not allow such injustice to prevail,” he said, adding that Meghalaya BJP members will meet the Assam Chief Minister (also of the BJP) to demand action against those behind the communal comments.
In a separate but recent incident, a Christian nun from Garo Hills was verbally abused and forced off a bus she was travelling in through Assam.
“I have the right to demand that our fellow Christians should not live insecurely but have complete freedom to whom they worship,” Mawrie said while stressing on the contribution of Christian educational institutions in Meghalaya, the North East and the entire country.
Meanwhile, state BJP spokesperson Gregory Shullai said that religion often causes societal splits and if this is allowed in Meghalaya “it will be the beginning of the divide.” Such is the force of religion that politicians often draw on it to win votes but religion and politics is not a good mix.
He said that in the case of Catholic schools that put up statues of Jesus and Mary on their premises, a shopkeeper or a restaurant owner who may be a Hindu or a Muslim puts up images, idols, symbols and statues relevant to their religion and it is no different from the Catholic school.
