Ukhrul: The Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) has strongly condemned the call of prime minister of India, Narendra Modi for nationwide cleanliness drive on Sunday, October 1, 2023 stating that Sunday holds deep religious significance among the followers of Christian faith.
In a press conference held at TBCA headquarters, Alungtang Ukhrul, the association alleged that the intention of the present government seems like a systematic persecution of religious minorities.
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“Cleanliness is one of the core teachings of Christianity and we advocate it with ardent devotion. However, to do a cleanliness drive desacralising our holy worship day tentamounts to renegading our faith” stated Rev Dr Themshang Horam, education secretary of TBCA.
Dr Themshang Horam added “every year on Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) the nation has been performing cleanliness drive. There is no need to prepone it to Sunday. This act seems like a systematic persecution of religious minorities. This is not the first instance. In the past, we have experienced the same persecution during his regime. December 25 was declared as Good Governance Day in 2014 and on April 17, which was Good Friday was declared as Digital India Day in 2017. We would like to remind that Article 25-30 of the Indian Constitution has provided and guaranteed our fundamental rights to advocate, propagate and administer the practice of our own religion.”
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There are 101 churches affiliated under TBCA and the assocaition has directed all its members to refrain from participating in the nationwide cleanliness drive on Sunday, October 1, 2023. However, the association has requested its 55,000 strong members to support the cleanliness drive initiated by PM Modi by taking up the cleanliness drive on any day of the week in their respective churches.