Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has turned down the offer from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to clean the church compound on 11th May 2024. While thanking the BJP for the “good service to the church” and for propagating good civic sense, NBCC also suggested that the BJP “pursue another avenue of service”.

In a statement, NBCC President Rev Dr Mar Pongener and General Secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho pointed out “unprecedented persecution” faced by religious and social minorities under the BJP government. The Council alleged that “Christian worship and our pastors and priests are beaten, tortured and imprisoned” while “gatherings are closely watched and monitored leaving religious institutions in the country extremely vulnerable”. “Even our Christian symbols were the target not to speak of the demolition of our sacred worship places”, it stated.

In view of all these happening “under the nose of the authority”, NBCC declined the offer and rather suggested that the BJP leadership “mobilize party members to travel to locations to safeguard persecuted churches in the mainland” which the Council said will undoubtedly give reassurance to the minorities.

The Nagaland State BJP had on 27th April 2024 informed it’s party workers that a tree plantation would be carried out by its youth front on 4th May 2024 while it’s women’s front would take part in a cleanliness drive at church compounds. It also informed that on 23rd June the Party would observe the Death Anniversary of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, one of the founders of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

Advising all political parties in Nagaland, BJP in particular, to “exercise caution when issuing directions”, NBCC stated that knowing what to say and do, as well as what is acceptable can help to close the gap that has been growing in our state.

The Council further asserted, “Stay as a political party, and leave the church to run whatever they see fit within their compounds.”

This is not a political statement but the church is just drawing the line of separation, NBCC said. The Church also reminded the BJP that it has its own environment Sunday and also a day set aside for plantation.

Moreover, the Council further reminded that it is not accustomed to observing death anniversary except the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and advised against political parties dictating citizens what to observe or when to do things.

NBCC also urged churches to be vigilant when a political party becomes religious in nature because the “authority on which power is generated between the church and the state are different.”