Shillong, Jan 24: The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) has castigated the Hindu rights group Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP) for its remark that “religious intolerance” caused the recent violent protests at Mawkynrew over construction of a Ramskrishna Mission school.
“That is certainly not the case when patience and openness has been shown to the Rama Krishna Mission all along in its efforts to start a school in the area. From the news reports and visuals in the media no Church nor Christian institution has initiated the trouble but the local citizenry of those areas were engaged in the altercations related to the issues that concern them,” secretary of the forum Rev Dr EH Kharkongor said in a statement.
“The KSP has no right nor basis to make the claims of “intolerance” on religious lines particularly against the Christian community in our State. This is clearly seen as a provocative act to stoke the fires of fundamentalism and exclusion in our diverse and secular country,” he said.
Terming KSP as “militant in nature” while referring to its recent threat to force “road blockade” against Meghalaya over Mawjymbuin cave issue, he said, “It is prudent therefore that the authorities take timely steps on these types of organisations in order to prevent acts of communal and religious fanaticism in our State.”
Rev Kharkongor added, “The Christian Leaders Forum wishes that peace will prevail in Mawkynrew and that this issue would be imminently resolved as soon as possible to promote education and fraternal relations among the different communities in our land.”
Meanwhile, Shillong All Faiths Forum (SAFF) also came down heavily on KSP for its remark on the incidents at Mawkynrew in East Khasi Hills.
It accused the KSP of trying to turn the Mawkynrew issue into a friction on religious lines.
“This is the same organisation which recently threatened our people with a road blockade on another issue related to tourism in our state,” SAFF vice-president Noor Nongrum said in a statement.
Maintaining that crowd engaged in the incidents at Mawkynrew did not identify by their religious affiliations, Nongrum said, “It is very wrong for the KSP to cast aspersion and accuse the Christian community in this manner.”
The SAFF also appealed to the people and the local leaders in Mawkynrew area to work with the relevant authorities in settling this issue amicably and see that peace and harmony is maintained.
