The Nagaland Transparency Public Rights Advocacy and Direct Action Organization (NTPRADAO) appealed the Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan, to bring back Pastor John Roughton to India. The Pastor, an Overseas Citizen of India, was deported from New Delhi on 31st October 2024.

In a letter to the Governor, the Organization mentioned that the Pastor is a law-abiding OCI and has been living a peaceful family life in Dimapur for around three decades and condemned the “unethical deportation and atrocities supposedly based on religious activities by the Foreigners Regional Registration office (FRRO), New Delhi and the concern authorities.”

The NTPRADAO also said that the State Government must take “immediate step to push the case to the level of Prime Minister, Home Minister and most Importantly the External Affairs Minister”, for smoothly bringing back Pastor John Roughton to India.

Further, the Organization said, “for India to maintain a balance and harmonious geopolitical relations with America and furthering of international relations with the western democracies; India must be cautious not only to antagonize the friendly existing powers in the world politics.”

NTPRADAO President Phemching Konyak, Secretary General Chenithung Lotha, Secretary W. Ashen Phom and Women Coordinator Kitoli Sema, also called upon the people of Nagaland and Christians all over India to show solidarity with the Roughton family and to remember them in prayer for an amicable settlement soon.