The Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has announced its opposition to the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), terming it as an attempt to supplant “our society to another society” by infringing on the very nature of inherent rights of the local community. This was decided at the association’s consultative meeting under the theme “Reading the Signs of the Times” at Mt Tabor Retreat House, Kohima on Saturday.
The catholic church affirmed that UCC was neither necessary, nor desirable and appealed to the state government to take an absolute resolution in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) to oppose the proposed move.
Taking cognizance of the violence in Manipur, the association also denounced the dehumanising acts committed by the people involved in the conflict. The church said it was agonised to see the defilement of human dignity in Manipur. It implored the Government of Nagaland to take steps and measures to shun and prevent such inhuman conflicts in the state that could dehumanise the well-being of persons in every dimension — economic, political, social, ecological, and spiritual.
Further, CAN appreciated and declared support to the policy initiatives of the state government vis-à-vis the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). However, the church appealed to the government to be prudent and take abundant precaution while charting and enacting laws and policies that directly affected human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. It called for pursuing of policies that centred on individuals to flourish with full dignity.
On the other hand, Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India being a parliamentary resolution that was close to every Naga’s heart, the CAN requested the state government to further the understanding on the proviso of the Article while embarking upon various initiatives.
Regarding the Naga political issue, the church affirmed to “reason the reasons”. Based on the understanding the past and in the light of the present, it implored upon every Naga concerned to build a culture of collective thinking, rather than patronising an individual idea.
In this context, the church appealed to all citizens of Nagaland to understand and recognise the battle for truth rather than conforming to unholy prevailing majority opinions. It said every catholic church member in the state could articulate the inner happenings of Naga society for right discernment of the community development envisioning common good in Nagaland.
Based on the Catholic Social Teaching (CST), the consultative meet affirmed that the church was the “Embodiment of the Aspirations of the People”. The meet therefore called for integral human development, concerns the wellbeing of every person.
Bishop of Kohima Diocese and head of catholic church in Nagaland, Rev Dr James Thoppil said de-generated democratic system with majority-oriented democracy should be shunned. He stressed that unequal treatment had no place in the society.
Resource persons for the consultative discourse on the “Reading the Signs of the Times” were All India Catholic Union president Elias R Vaz, CAN president Johnny Ruangmei, and CAN advisers Elias T Lotha and Jonas Yanthan.
The sessions were moderated by Kohima College’s associate professor Dr Kekhrieseno Christina and Kohima Science College’s assistant professor Dr Richard Dzüvichü. North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) vice-principal Rev Fr GL Khing enlightened the audience on UCC. This was stated in press release by CAN president Johnny Ruangmei and secretary general Teisovi Gerard Meyase.