North East Christians join stir against Citizenship Bill

United Christian Forum of North East India appeals to Centre to hear the ‘democratic voices’ of citizens

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The United Christian Forum of North East India, the apex body of Christians living in the State, has decided to join the ongoing movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Forum in its meeting held in the city on Monday made a fervent appeal to the Centre to hear the “democratic voices” of citizens and reconsider its decision to push the contentious and controversial Bill. It has also appealed to all its members to pray for a peaceful and amicable solution to the imbroglio that has seen widespread protests in the North East, which has a significant chunk of the Christian population.

The State governments in Christian-dominated Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland have opposed the Bill terming it a grave threat to the culture and identity of the local people. The Christian community has significant contributions in the development of education and other social sectors in the North East. The Christian educational institutions in the North East have produced many talents in different fields including politics and social development.

Forum spokesperson and noted social activist Allen Brooks said the representatives of the Christian community have expressed serious concern over the growing unrest, fear and anxiety expressed by all sections of citizens across the seven States of the region against the move of the Centre to pass the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. He said passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha must be prevented under any circumstance.

During Monday’s meeting, the Church leaders of the North East have expressed deep anguish and pain over the ways the Centre is addressing anxieties of the indigenous people of the North East whose future stands threatened.

“It is all the more shocking when major decisions are made in the country based only on religious affiliation, thus compromising the secular identity of the nation,” Brooks said.

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