SHILLONG, APR 22: BJP national president Amit Shah had a handful on his first visit to Shillong on Wednesday as church and non- Congress political parties leaders met him and appealed to the BJP led union government to uphold secular and pluralistic credentials of India and refrain from bringing a national law to ban killing or export of cattle.
Shah had separate meeting with church as well as political leaders.
UDP president Donkupar Roy briefed reporters about his meeting with Shah and informed that the UDP has urged the BJP leadership to respect the religious sentiments.
Similarly, NPP leader Conrad K Sangma said, “We have told him (Shah) that there are some sentiments that have been hurt and requested that there should be more participation and involvement of minority groups including Christians.”
Sangma informed that Shah was positive and assured that the matter would be taken up at the party as well as the government level.”
Other opposition parties like the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) have also expressed similar views during the meeting with Shah.
In a memorandum submitted to Shah, the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) leaders has urged the centre to refrain from bringing anti-conversion law and a national law to ban killing and export of cattle.
The PCI leaders said “If such a law (anti-conversion) is enacted then it implies that one is not allowed to be released from the confines of his/her castes and other oppressive structures as per dictates or his/her religious teaching,” they said.
On the ban on cow slaughter, the PCI said, “We do not want to enter into a debate on the pros and cons on banning of cow slaughter enforced in Haryana and Maharashtra though plenty of analysis has been done on its economic fall-out.”
According to them such unilateral banning is an encroachment on the rights of those whose religious belief does not dictate non eating of beef or pork or any other meats.
The PCI leaders argued that people have every right to make their own choice on what they eat and what they do not want to eat either from religious or health perspective as also from one’s personal choice.
PCI further stated that such actions by states and possible action by the centre will defeat the very spirit of the Constitution. “We therefore, requested the centre under leadership of the BJP to uphold the secular credentials of our nation, India,” the church leaders said.- By Our Reporter
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