The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has strongly criticized the BJP-led Central Government over the denial of entry visa to Rev Franklin Graham, preventing his much-anticipated visit to Nagaland and termed the move as “blatant discrimination against the Christian community” and “a direct assault on the freedom of faith that is enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

In a statement issued on Friday, the NPCC said that the refusal of permit to the American evangelist, scheduled to visit Nagaland, had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Christian-majority state. “The people of Nagaland, who were preparing with great anticipation and prayer to receive the message from the son of the legendary Rev. Billy Graham, have been deeply hurt and insulted by this arbitrary move from New Delhi,” the Congress alleged.

The party further claimed that the incident reflected what it called “systematic and intolerant policies of the BJP-RSS regime, which seeks to suppress and marginalize the Christian community and other religious minorities across the country.”

“It is an affront to the unique identity and the deeply held Christian faith of the Naga people,” it added.

NPF also held responsible

The NPCC also held the Naga People’s Front (NPF), a partner in the ruling coalition both in the state and the Centre, equally responsible for this mess. “Their deafening silence and complete inaction in this matter expose their political opportunism and their utter subservience to their masters in Delhi,” it said.

The Congress stated that as allies in the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and the state Government, the NPF had both the platform and the moral responsibility to intervene and ensure that visa is granted. “Their failure to do so proves that they are willing to compromise the sentiments of the Naga people for their own political survival,” it said.

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BJP MLAs asked to resign

In a sharp political escalation, the NPCC asserted that BJP legislators in Nagaland have “lost the moral right to represent the people in the Assembly.” It argued that their failure to influence the Central leadership to “reverse this discriminatory decision” reflected loyalty to “an anti-minority agenda of the BJP and not with the Christian community of Nagaland”.

“If they possess any shred of integrity and respect for the faith of their constituents, they must tender their resignations immediately. Their continued presence in the Assembly is an insult to every citizen of Nagaland,” the NPCC said, adding, “ …the NPF and BJP MLAs are mere puppets, unable and unwilling to stand up for the rights and faith of the people they claim to represent.

The NPCC demanded a full and transparent explanation from the Government of India for this “discriminatory visa denial”. It also called upon the people of Nagaland to see through the hypocrisy of the NPF and the BJP, who stand exposed for their inability to protect the interests and the faith of the state.

Reaffirming its commitment, the NPCC said the Congress would continue to defend India’s secular character and stand with all minority communities. “We stand in solidarity with the Christian community of Nagaland,” the statement said.