The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Tuesday condemned the recent call by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi for a nationwide cleanliness drive on 1 October, Sunday, a day that holds deep religious significance and is traditionally recognized as a day of rest and worship in the Christian faith.
PM Modi had on 24th September called upon the citizens of the nation to participate in the voluntary labour for cleanliness called Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath (One Date One Hour Together) on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti which is a Sunday for this year.
In a press statement issued by NSF President Medovi Rhi, and General Secretary Chumben Khuvung, the Federation expressed concerns raised by the Christian community, considering the nationwide event on a Sunday as “deeply insensitive to the religious sentiments of the Christian community and outrightly detrimental to the very essence of Secularism.”
While acknowledging the Indian Government’s initiatives for the betterment of society, including cleanliness drives, the NSF affirmed its stance in the importance of unity and mutual respect among citizens of all faiths, maintaining the fabric of secularism in the Indian sub-continent. “We acknowledge cleanliness as an ideal that everyone should advocate, regardless of one’s religious beliefs. However, the Federation express our dismay over what we perceive as a communal attitude of the Centre, which appears to target Christian faith and other minority communities intentionally,” viewed the NSF.
“In light of the recent call for a cleanliness drive on October 1, NSF calls upon all Church associations and local churches across the Naga homeland to boycott this proposed social work. They are also urged to instruct their members to abstain from participating in the drive as a sign of resentment against the repeated attempts by the Government of India to disrupt Christian faith and practices in the country,” the Federation added.
The NSF further appealed to the frontal organizations and Christian leaders to stand together in defense of the Christian faith, emphasizing that adherence to religious beliefs should not be compromised. The Federation also urged for a resolution that respects the religious convictions of all citizens and fosters peace in the Indian sub-continent.
“The Naga Students’ Federation remains committed to protecting the rights and religious freedoms of all communities in the Naga homeland and in the wider Indian society,” asserted the NSF.
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In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum requested the CM’s office to defer the 1st October, Nation Wide Cleanliness Drive to 30 September.
“Since Sunday is a day of worship for Christians; the church cannot allow her members to make that day a working day. Nevertheless, the church is aware that cleanliness is part of the civic duty and therefore, we will do so joyfully except on Sunday, which is a day of worship for Christians and not for work,” stated the Forum.
The Forum further requested for dissemination of information to concerned department and authorities to declare Saturday as a day dedicated to Nation Wide Cleanliness Drive in Nagaland.
Nagas as Christians cannot simply abide by the call of the Prime Minister no matter how noble is the cleanliness drive, NSCN-IM said in a statement adding that such nationwide initiatives should respect the spirit of secularism.
The Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) too expressed disappointment over PM Modi’s call for the nationwide cleanliness drive on Sunday. Stating that “Cleanliness is not above godliness!”, CBCC said, “We must obey God rather human beings”.
The council stated that while it supports the good initiatives of the government, it abhors the “communal attitude at the Centre for constant intentional target against Christian faith and other minority communities.”
CBCC has further called upon the church associations and local churches in Nagaland to boycott the program for the “repeated attempt to disrupt Christian faith and practices in the country.”
KMC and WTC to conduct mass social work on Saturday 30th September
A circular issued by T. Lanusenla Longkumer, Administrator, Kohima Municipal Council, notified all Ward Panchayats along with Ward/ Colony/ Sector Sanitation Committees in Kohima to contributing 1 hour for cleanliness on 30 September, Saturday.
“In pursuance of the directive received from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MOHUA) on contributing 1 hour for cleanliness throughout the country, this is for the information of all concerned to clean their immediate surroundings including business establishments on 30-09-2023 from 6:00Am onwards,” stated the circular.
The KMC directed all the Ward Panchayats along with Ward/ Colony/ Sector Sanitation Committees to do the needful and also submit geo tagged photos on September 30 to the number -8257852860 for further uploaded the portal.
The Wokha Town Council has also notified all the Shopkeepers under its jurisdiction to conduct a mass social work which will be held on 30 September from 7:00am onwards in the market area and Highway.
The notification issued by Tsidi, SDO (Civil)&I/C Administrator Wokha Town Council requested all the shopkeepers to participate actively in the Social Work (cleanliness drive) without fail.
