Kohima, Several protesters marched here under the banner of the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum against proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and compulsory singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ at official events, seeking protection of religious freedom, constitutional rights and upholding India’s secular xcharacter.
Nagaland Christians Rally for Religious Freedom
At a recent rally in Nagaland, N Paphino, president of the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, emphasized that the protest was not against India, its constitution, or the state. Instead, it served as a peaceful expression of concerns regarding faith, identity, religious liberty, and democratic values.
Paphino stated, “Nationalism does not mean the destruction of identity. Patriotism does not mean the surrender of conscience,” highlighting that India’s strength lies in its diversity. He argued that unity should not equate to uniformity.
Regarding the requirement to sing Vande Mataram, Paphino remarked that individuals whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating should not be compelled to do so.
NJCF president described the issue as a matter of freedom of conscience rather than patriotism, and urged the government to ensure that people are harassed if they choose not to participate in the singing of the national song. After the rally, the NJCF submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through Lok Bhavan. In it, the outfit raised concerns over the proposed FCRA amendments, religious freedom, compulsory chanting of Vande Mataram, and the continued enforcement of the Protected Area Permit regime and Armed Forces Act in the Northeast. It urged the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the proposed changes to independently consult stakeholders, including grassroots beneficiaries, and visit remote areas to assess the impact of the proposed amendments.
The forum said it did not oppose stringent enforcement of the FCRA and maintained that organisations violating the law should face penalties or cancellation of their licences.
