The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has objected to the recent decision taken by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) to allow shops and business establishments to remain open after 12:00 pm on Sundays in view of the festive season. In a press release, the Party stated that it is baffled by DMC normalizing Sabbath day as any other day of the week “under the garb of the so called ‘Festive Season’”.

“Sabbath/Christmas is not to be trivialized nor commercialized”, it said, adding that “citizen should have amble time to exercise their shopping activities during the weekdays”. The RPP also said that it is unbecoming of the DMC to blatantly hurt the sentiments of devout Christians taking advantage of the Christmas season and that the notification gives the impression that the municipal body has succumbed to pressure.

Further, the Party slammed the State Government for giving “undue importance” to the Hornbill Festival while neglecting Sabbath days. It opined that all the legislators of the different political parties along with the various church organisations should come to a consensus on the matter of conducting business transactions on Sundays.

“The government of the day including all its affiliate organisations such as the ULBs should understand that despite our varied political stance and views we do not stray from the core principles of Christian ethics and principles,” the RPP said. It also stressed that unless stakeholders must take “corrective measures”, the coming Naga generation will end up as ‘Wokes’ or spiritual illiterates.