The Zeliangrong Heraka Association has submitted a memorandum to the president of India against Naga Christians. In its memorandum, the association alleged many baseless and unfounded allegations against the Naga Christians in the name of preserving and protecting the Naga culture, customs and indigenous religion. Please note that Naga Christians whosoever may be in Nagaland, Assam or Manipur are not against the rich culture and customs of the Nagas. They are against destroying our rich culture and customs. All the Naga Christians observe and celebrate their respective traditional festivals in Christianity way. The only change is we do not worship gods and nature as our forefathers did. The Naga Christians observe and celebrate the festivals by thanking and praying to our only God Jesus Christ.
So, the allegation made by the Heraka Association against the Naga Christians can be termed as baseless and unfounded. I have great doubt that not a single Rongmei is there in Heraka faith. Only Zeliangs are there in Heraka religion. In Manipur valley, there is a group of Zeliangrong people who themselves claimed as Kabui has a different indigenous religion known as Tingkau Ragang Chaprek (Heavenly God religion). Some of the Kabuis has converted to Muslim religion and they even formed Kabui Muslim Organization.
Since we are living in secular state, no one can oppose anybody on changing of religion/faith because religion is personal to every individual. We the Naga Christians only preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to repent and accept Jesus as their personal savior. We never used any kind of force or threat. Jesus taught us to love people by spreading His living word. Therefore, I would like to appeal the Heraka leaders not to mislead and misguide the general people particularly the Hindus that your baseless allegations will ultimately encourage them to attack more Christians in dominated state such as Orissa, Madya Pradesh, Andra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc. you know how the Hindus are attacking, burning down Churches, killing and torturing the minority Christians.
Please remember how the fanatic Hindus burnt alive missionary Staines Graham and his two minor sons while sleeping in their vehicle in Orissa a few years back and killed a Christian missionary- cum teacher and forcibly closed some Christian run schools in Manipur few years back by the Meitei Hindus. Christians never do such heinous crimes because it is against our ethic and faith. Jesus taught us to love our neighbours and enemies and forgive anything wrong done to us. Jesus even forbade us to judge others because judgment will be done by himself.
M Mpamei, Senapati
