Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has welcomed the state government’s decision to advance the Central government’s proposed massive cleanliness drive across the country on October 1, 2023 by a day to September 30.
NTC in a press release termed this as a humble beginning of conveying a goodwill message that nothing but mutual trust and respect was the only way to build confidence between the Centre and the states irrespective of caste, race and religion.
In fact, NTC said it was dismayed by the Central government’s announcement on September 22 for a massive cleanliness drive led by people across the country on October 1 at 10 am as part of Swachhata Pakhwada– Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS), as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of his birth anniversary on October 2.
The council claimed that the Christian community in Nagaland seriously felt insulted as the proposed official scheduled date of October 1 for the massive cleanliness drive fell on Sunday, which was a day of worship for the Community.
According to the council, this was not the first instance that the Hindu-dominated country discriminated the Christians in the country in general and the Northeast in particular where Nagaland was no exception, in the matter of launching government programmes coinciding with the Sunday worshiping services.
The NTC pointed out that since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, even December 25, which was a remarkable day for the Christian community, was officially declared Good Governance Day, while the International Yoga Day was officially launched on Sunday, whereby church services were disturbed by the official programme.
“This time as well the Swachhata Pakhwada, a massive cleanliness drive, is fixed on Sunday, October 1, with a government programme. Coinciding of the official launching programmes on Sundays need to be avoided as far as practicable,” the release stressed.
Despite Nagaland being a Christian-dominated state, the council reminded that it did not fail to give due respect to religions, as it duly honoured other holidays such as the Durga Puja, Diwali, Guru Nanak birthday, Janmashtami, Id-ul-Zuha, Holi, Id-ul-Fitr, etc.
On the contrary, the council alleged that even December 25, which was one of the greatest days for the Christians the world over, was surprisingly not given due recognition and no general holiday was declared in mainland India. Due reciprocation with gesticulation of rapport from both the Centre and state was necessary for a peaceful coexistence, it stressed.