The Shillong All Faith Forum (SAFF) has appealed to all political parties to be mindful of what they speak, how they speak and what they do.
The SAFF, a conglomeration of various religious groups of the State, held an all faiths meeting here today.
Addressing the media after the meeting, SAFF president Bishop Purely Lyngdoh said that with elections coming, the forum wanted peace and harmony among all communities.
“Political parties should not create divisions among and hatred amongst all people for political mileage,” Bishop Lyngdoh said.
He appealed to the citizens of the State to be careful of what one hears, of messages they receive which may be fake news.
“We should not succumb to fake news. We want peace, harmony, in normal times and in times of distress. Even as elections are coming, we are all excited, we should try our best to maintain peace and harmony,” Bishop Lyngdoh added.
The SAFF president also said that there are fringe elements who would like to take advantage of the situation and provoke different communities.
Stating that SAFF wants the community to understand, to be aware, and to be alert of the situation, Bishop Lyngdoh said that it is unfortunate that the wind of hatred, divisions, intolerance, of suppression and oppression is blowing all over the country.
He said that North East India used to be a peaceful region inspite of the fact that hundreds of different tribes, communities, languages and customs and practices exist.
“But of late we all know what is happening in Manipur, Assam and sadly and alarmingly we see the signs that even Meghalaya is being touched now, in the border areas,” Bishop Lyngdoh said.
He said that the forum wanted to convey a message to all the people of Meghalaya and also Assam that it is possible for people of all faiths to come together.
The SAFF president said that the forum is a testimony of all faiths in Meghalaya coming together with understanding, love and tolerance and this should be possible in other states too.
