Christians protest drug slur against churches in Assam

GUWAHATI: The Christian community in Assam has urged the state administration to take stringent action against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international joint secretary Surendra Kumar Jain, for his remarks against churches. 

The demand follows a speech Jain delivered on October 27 at the opening of the Joya Thaosen Computer Learning Centre at the KK Hojai Chatrinivas Building in Haflong. In his address, Jain claimed that churches were sources of drug trafficking, which he alleged was contributing to the degradation of youth in the region.

Christian leaders and community members have condemned these remarks as inflammatory and baseless, expressing concern that such statements could incite communal tension. They argue that Jain’s comments misrepresent the role of churches, which they say are committed to promoting social welfare, education, and moral values.

The community has called on the Assam government to address this issue promptly, fearing that unchecked statements like Jain’s could lead to misunderstandings and potential conflicts. They stress the need for maintaining communal harmony and safeguarding the rights of all religious communities in the state.

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On Tuesday, leaders of the United Christian Forum (UCF) from Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong, along with the Assam Christian Forum (ACF), submitted a memorandum to the Dima Hasao district commissioner, urging action against VHP leader Surendra Kumar Jain over his recent remarks. 

UCF Dima Hasao president, DC Haja Daniel, emphasized the community’s patience but warned that if the administration does not respond, they will file an FIR against Jain. 

The Christian organizations expressed particular offence at Jain’s choice of platform. The inauguration was intended to honour Joya Thaosen, a respected freedom fighter who upheld the values of unity and secularism cherished across communities in Dima Hasao. 

In their statement, the Christian groups condemned Jain’s comments as baseless and harmful, viewing them as a targeted attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Christian community, which they assert has long contributed positively to the region.

They called for decisive action from the district administration to uphold communal harmony and protect the community from unfounded accusations.

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In their memorandum, the Christian leaders highlighted the extensive contributions made by the Christian community across the Northeast, particularly in fields such as education, healthcare, social welfare, literature, media, research, relief, and sustainable development. These initiatives, they noted, have positively transformed countless lives and fostered societal progress.

The memorandum condemned Jain’s statements, calling his insinuations that the Church is involved in illegal activities "unfounded, baseless, and unacceptable." The leaders warned that such rhetoric threatens to breed mistrust and undermine the unity and inclusiveness that have been essential to Assam's peaceful coexistence and development. The remarks, they stated, not only insult the Christian community but also endanger the region’s peace and cooperation, built on mutual respect among its diverse communities.

The Christian leaders requested that legal action be taken against Jain under the relevant laws, asserting that his comments had hurt the sentiments of the entire Christian community. They also urged all community leaders to avoid inflammatory statements that could disrupt Assam's communal harmony, stressing the need for responsible leadership to ensure sustained peace and unity.