Shillong: The war of words between BJP and Congress over the Centre's tourism bundle for Meghalaya has drawn the church into the political ring in the election-bound state.
On Wednesday, a day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi got here down closely on BJP for 'offering money to church buildings' and trying to 'buy' political make stronger, the saffron birthday celebration demanded an apology. "Rahul should apologize or withdraw his statement. It sends a wrong message to the people of Meghalaya," president of the state unit of BJP, Shibun Lyngdoh, mentioned on Wednesday. It was the Congress president as an alternative, he added, who had made it sound just like the church was a 'commodity that can be purchased.'
The contentious tourism bundle that started all of it was announced in the first week of January. With a Rs 70-crore bundle, Union tourism minister KJ Alphons - who is also BJP's election incharge for Meghalaya - mentioned places of religious worship in the state would be given a facelift beneath the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Of this, Rs 61.38 crore was deliberate for infrastructure development in 37 church buildings and the rest earmarked for development tasks for 11 different non secular groups.
When the bundle was announced, two church buildings - the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church and the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians - had rejected it, saying that they had never requested for funds from the Centre. "We don't endorse or oppose political parties, we advise people on how to vote and encourage them to exercise their democratic right," mentioned Reverend P Hynliawta, administrative secretary of the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church. "This time, we are worried about the policies of the government at the Centre, especially about food habits. Their education policy is also disturbing. And they want to introduce here what they are doing elsewhere. That is what we resist," he added.
The Congress president, who had a breakfast meeting with leaders from more than a few faiths and communities right here on Wednesday, mentioned there's an amazing feeling of 'attack' in the state. "This sense of assault is because BJP and RSS want to impose one idea and one perspective for the entire nation. The idea of diversity is being crushed. Congress wants the northeast to remain the open-minded, diverse region it is," he mentioned.
In the Christian-majority state, the lives of a big phase revolve around the church. Tapping into that may yield important political dividends. "To a large extent, the church stays away from politics," Archie Kharpuri, secretary of All Saint's Cathedral - probably the most oldest church buildings of town, mentioned. He was among the leaders invited to the meeting with Rahul right here. Officially, the church has no political stance, he gave a disclaimer. "But there is a fear. This is a tribal state. There are people who practise animism. RSS is trying to appropriate these indigenous faiths. For thousands of years, tribals have lived in peace. For the first time, there is a creeping sense of hostility. What BJP and RSS are doing is terrible. They are indoctrinating tribals for mere political gain," he added.
On Wednesday, a day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi got here down closely on BJP for 'offering money to church buildings' and trying to 'buy' political make stronger, the saffron birthday celebration demanded an apology. "Rahul should apologize or withdraw his statement. It sends a wrong message to the people of Meghalaya," president of the state unit of BJP, Shibun Lyngdoh, mentioned on Wednesday. It was the Congress president as an alternative, he added, who had made it sound just like the church was a 'commodity that can be purchased.'
The contentious tourism bundle that started all of it was announced in the first week of January. With a Rs 70-crore bundle, Union tourism minister KJ Alphons - who is also BJP's election incharge for Meghalaya - mentioned places of religious worship in the state would be given a facelift beneath the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Of this, Rs 61.38 crore was deliberate for infrastructure development in 37 church buildings and the rest earmarked for development tasks for 11 different non secular groups.
When the bundle was announced, two church buildings - the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church and the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians - had rejected it, saying that they had never requested for funds from the Centre. "We don't endorse or oppose political parties, we advise people on how to vote and encourage them to exercise their democratic right," mentioned Reverend P Hynliawta, administrative secretary of the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church. "This time, we are worried about the policies of the government at the Centre, especially about food habits. Their education policy is also disturbing. And they want to introduce here what they are doing elsewhere. That is what we resist," he added.
The Congress president, who had a breakfast meeting with leaders from more than a few faiths and communities right here on Wednesday, mentioned there's an amazing feeling of 'attack' in the state. "This sense of assault is because BJP and RSS want to impose one idea and one perspective for the entire nation. The idea of diversity is being crushed. Congress wants the northeast to remain the open-minded, diverse region it is," he mentioned.
In the Christian-majority state, the lives of a big phase revolve around the church. Tapping into that may yield important political dividends. "To a large extent, the church stays away from politics," Archie Kharpuri, secretary of All Saint's Cathedral - probably the most oldest church buildings of town, mentioned. He was among the leaders invited to the meeting with Rahul right here. Officially, the church has no political stance, he gave a disclaimer. "But there is a fear. This is a tribal state. There are people who practise animism. RSS is trying to appropriate these indigenous faiths. For thousands of years, tribals have lived in peace. For the first time, there is a creeping sense of hostility. What BJP and RSS are doing is terrible. They are indoctrinating tribals for mere political gain," he added.
Election gamesmanship pulls church into politics
![Election gamesmanship pulls church into politics]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 01, 2018
Rating:
