Please see here the press note from Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi (KJPSS), a constituent of the Presbyterian Church of India, urging the governments to uphold and safeguard the religious freedom and fundamental rights of all Indian citizens.
The 25th December every year being observed worldwide as Christmas Day to commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ observed for more than 2,000 years, and is one of the main religious festivals in India. The event is being observed meaningfully through worship of praise and thanksgiving by Christian community. Therefore, the Church humbly requests the Government of India to maintain the privilege of Christians to observe Christmas Day as usual. It would heartily welcome and appreciate if the Government would observe Good Governance Day on any other important date.
PRESS STATEMENT
By The
Khasi Jaiñtia
Presbyterian Synod Sepngi
Shillong, Meghalaya.
The
Executive Committee of
the Khasi Jaiñtia Presbyterian
Synod Sepngi, one of the
constituents of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of India with
its headquarter in Shillong, Meghalaya, having a membership of more than 340000,
which
met in Shillong,
Meghalaya on Thursday,
05th February, 2015 is
seized of the recent developments
concerning forced conversion,
re-conversion and proposed
ban on conversion.
In the light of such developments and after a thorough discussion, it was
decided to issue a Press Statement as follows:
That
the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi expresses its
appreciation to the
HRD Ministry for
withdrawing its advisory to
States and directives
to the Navo
Vidyalayas on opening
schools on 25th December, 2014 to
observe “Good Governance
Day” as per
guidelines given.
The 25th December every year being observed worldwide as Christmas Day to commemorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ observed for more than 2,000 years, and is one of the main religious festivals in India. The event is being observed meaningfully through worship of praise and thanksgiving by Christian community. Therefore, the Church humbly requests the Government of India to maintain the privilege of Christians to observe Christmas Day as usual. It would heartily welcome and appreciate if the Government would observe Good Governance Day on any other important date.
That
it is deeply painful
to learn through the media that there are many cases of anti-Christians
activities in recent months, such as vandalizing Christian worship places, induced re-conversion, forced
change of nomenclature
of priests and
nuns in certain parts of the
country, installing of
statues of other gods and goddesses in
Christian places of
worship and institutions. Such acts create a sense
of insecurity among
the Christians who are committed
and dedicated to
the sovereignty and
integrity of the
nation and who are
citizens of pluralistic
and Secular Democratic India.
That
it is compelled
to remind each
and every Indian
citizen, no matter
to which religious persuasion they belong and adhere to,
the fact of the
matter that the Constitution of
the country has
prescribed religious freedom for
institutions of religious
minorities.
Therefore,
it urges upon
the Governments at
the Centre, States
and Union Territories
to uphold and safeguard the religious freedom and fundamental rights of all
Indian citizens as provided in
the Constitution. It also urges upon all fellow citizens to live in
religious/communal harmony by
respecting each other,
one another’s religious
belief and not
to give space
and opportunity for destroying the
inter-woven fabric of
unity in diversity
as envisaged by
the founding fathers
of this great
nation and makers
of India’s Constitution.
As Christian citizens of the country we
assure our co-operation with, and pray for, the authorities in the effort to
bring peace, justice and general welfare of all citizens.
May
God bless our country to have peace, harmony and progress in all aspects.
Sd/-
Rev. S.
S. Majaw
Moderator,
Khasi
Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi
 |
| Press Statement by KJPSS |
