NJCF takes umbrage to BJP, Congress manifestos

Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has taken umbrage to BJP and Congress promising free trip to Holy Land of Jerusalem in their manifestos. 
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NJCF vice-president Rev Dr N Paphino pointed out that Nagas who could afford had been making pilgrimage to Holy Land over the years and that there was nothing wrong in that.
However, the promise of financially supporting the pilgrimage by both the parties was not sync with the secular ethos of the country.
While the BJP manifesto promised setting up citizen board that would annually select around 50 members through lucky draw for a free trip to Holy Land of Jerusalem, the Congress on its part stated that, by an Act, a board would be established to “facilitate minorities to visit the Holy Land (Jerusalem) at a subsidised cost”.
He said the concern for senior citizens in both the manifestos was understood, however, using Holy Land that had religious connotation should not be used to entice voters to win their sympathy.
Pointing out that pilgrimage and tourism were two different things, Paphino said pilgrimage was personal and spiritual, whereas tourism was purely leisure and secular.
“India is a secular country and we do not expect any political party to use religious sentiment to further its political interest. Rather, we expect whichever party comes to power to judiciously use public fund for good cause and leave religious pilgrimage and tourism to individuals,” he stressed.
Urging the Christian community in Nagaland not to expect such personalised schemes just because it was Christian majority State, NJCF vice-president reminded them the Centre had stopped providing subsidy to haj pilgrims belonging to Muslim community for their annual pilgrimage to Mecca. He said, if haj subsidy was stopped, the Christians in Nagaland should not expect that a similar facility would be passed on to them.
While asking BJP not to play with sentiments of the Christians and instead send a firm message that henceforth Christians in mainland India would not be targeted and persecuted and their worship places would not be destroyed, Paphino said Congress’ similar offer was not in sync with secularism. 
Stating that there were other more important issues that required to be addressed, he urged both parties to develop a comprehensive programme for senior citizens and minorities and not to leave out anyone.
He told the followers of Christianity that while it was not wrong to visit the Holy Land, it would be futile to embark on such a pilgrimage at the “expense of others”.
“Let us leave Holy Land tour to personal and private domain,” he exhorted.