Shillong, December 24: Shillong Diocese archbishop Dominic Jala said that Meghalaya has passed through very difficult times in 2013 hoping that the Christmas and New Year will be a blessed one for the state and its people even as he appealed to the state government and the pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) ngos to do all that is possible for creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony in the state.
Jala said creating an environment of peace and harmony is possible only by engaging in dialogues between the state government and ngos on issue that are important to the state.
While extending his Christmas and New Year greeting to the people of the state cutting across religion and language, Jala told www.ohmeghalaya.com website on Tuesday that the state had seen orgy of violence during the 2013 and hoped that 2014 will usher in real peace that goes beyond hostilities and violence.
A reflective Jala said with a tinge of sadness in his voice, “We have passed through difficult times in Meghalaya and many other places and people have seen lots of violence all around them. Let us all pray this Christmas for peace to usher in our land and the New Year brings happiness and prosperity to all.”
Moving beyond the realm of religiosity, Jala firmly believed that the 2014 should be a year of dialogues on issues with an “openness of mind” and “sincere search for solutions” between the state government and the agitating ngos.
Jala felt that in 2013 there was “no openness” on the part of the “state government” as well as the agitating “ngos” that is primarily responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the state. However, he hoped, that year 2014 will see a new chapter where both the state government and ngos will discuss issues with an open mind sincerely searching for a solution.
While wishing the people, especially the marginalized and the poor, that the Christmas and the New Year brings blessing in their homes and also on those whom they meet, Jala spoke of the true essence of religiosity by saying that in all religions religious practices are there, but the real challenge is to match these religious practices with real life practices. He observed, “Living according to true value promoted by their respective religion is the essence of religiosity.”-By Our Reporter
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