Nagaland Tribes Council slams GoI for denying Rev Franklin Graham visa

The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has issued a statement expressing that both church leaders and the Christian community were “shocked and deeply hurt” by Government of India’s refusal to grant visa to renowned Christian preacher Rev. Franklin Graham for the Christian Fellowship and gathering at IG Stadium on November 30, 2025.
It stated that while the Centre claims India is the largest democracy and champions religious freedom, democracy and justice, its action contradicted these claims.
In a press note, NTC president Pankathung Lotha said the refusal to grant visa at the last moment sent out “a clear and loud message of religious intolerance”, reflecting “double talk and double standard”. It stated that the Government of India granted visas to foreign dignitaries, ambassadors, envoys and thousands of foreign tourists to attend the Hornbill Festival for cultural promotion “associated with plenty of alcoholic drinking and immoral activities”, but ignored the importance of promoting peace, unity and love through Christian gatherings in a Christian-dominated state. The Christian community, it said, found it hard to accept the teachings of Indian political leadership which failed to uphold religious freedom and democracy.
The NTC further stated that the Nagaland State government, by being “an accomplice of this anti-Christian policy”, had shown that it did not stand for the welfare and interest of the Naga public. It described the Centre’s action as “step-motherly attitude” and questioned how the state government represented the people in such an important matter. The BJP+NPF oppositionless government, it alleged, acted at the dictate of the RSS, which it termed “the infamous and communal engine that runs the BJP government” and attempts to impose Hindu rule in India. NTC said the state government should not try to please the BJP alone but care for Nagaland as a Christian state. Calling it a “serious political blunder”, the NTC said the government must give an explanation to the Naga public.