Dimapur, November 29 (MExN): The National People's Party (NPP) Nagaland has expressed “profound concern and strong disappointment” over the denial of permission for Reverend Franklin Graham’s visit to the state.
The event was scheduled for November 30 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima and was intended as a “major spiritual gathering for renewal, encouragement, and transformation of the people of the State,” the party stated in a release.
The decision to deny the visit has “come despite extensive preparations by churches and Christian organisations and the prayerful anticipation of thousands of believers across Nagaland,” the Media & IPR Cell of NPP Nagaland said.
The party described Nagaland's Christian faith as “the moral, spiritual, and social backbone of the State,” stating that the cancellation “strikes at the very heart of the people’s religious life and has caused deep pain and widespread disappointment.”
While asserting its respect for “the sovereign authority of the Government of India and the necessity of legal processes,” the NPP said the handling of the matter “raises serious and disturbing questions about the treatment being meted out to the Christian minority in the country.”
The party cautioned that “repeated restrictions and denials concerning Christian faith engagements send an unfortunate and dangerous signal that minority religious sentiments are being sidelined rather than protected with equal respect under the Constitution.”
Reiterating that freedom of religion is a “fundamental constitutional right,” the NPP stated that any decision that “appears to suppress or selectively restrict Christian religious expression demands urgent review.”
As a responsible political party, NPP Nagaland declared that it: Stands unconditionally with the Christian community of Nagaland and the nation; Demands that concerned authorities ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency in all matters concerning religious gatherings; and Reasserts that constitutional guarantees must be upheld without discrimination.
The party affirmed that it “will continue to speak firmly for justice, freedom of worship, and equal treatment for all religious communities,” adding that it remains “unwavering in defending the democratic and spiritual values upon which both Nagaland and the Republic of India are built.”
