Resentment Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland over observing Digital India Day on Good Friday
GUWAHATI: The central government’s decision to observe Digital India Day on April 14, which coincides with Good Friday, has irked Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, all Christian-dominated states.
The governments in Congress-ruled Meghalaya and Nagaland, where the BJP shares power with the Nagaland People's Front, said they will not participate in the programme that seeks to push the Centre’s digital drive. In Mizoram, also ruled by the Congress, there is resentment over holding the central government programme on Good Friday that marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said his state will not participate in Digital India Day programmes. The chief secretary has already taken up the matter with the union cabinet secretary and expressed the state’s displeasure over observing Digital India Day on the same day as Good Friday, he added.
“It is a matter of concern … We have to be candid in asking what their agenda is and it is the complete decimation of the secular fabric. The country is facing challenging circumstances,” the chief minister said.
The Meghalaya unit of the BJP has also sought deferment of the programme.
Nagaland chief secretary Pankaj Kumar said the day being a public holiday, the state government would not observe any activity related to promotion of digital payment on April 14.
“Government of India held a video conferencing on April 7, participated by state government officers, wherein it was informed that Nagaland was not included in the list.” Kumar said.
In Mizoram, the Young Mizo Association, a powerful non-governmental organisation, said the central government had instructed the state government to organise a Digi Dhan Mela on Good Friday and that it was “totally objectionable”. It urged the state government not to organise the event to promote digital transactions or any other official function on Good Friday.
BJP ally National People’s Party has also sought deferment of Digital India Day.
Lok Sabha MP an NPP leader Conrad K Sangma wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking deferment of Digital India Day programmes.
In his letter, Conrad said: “It is learnt that Digital India Day (DID) this year falls on Good Friday. I express my best wishes for the celebration of DID but with deepest and sincere concern of the Christian community, I suggest you to kindly defer Digital Day so that the secular fabric of India remained honoured.”
The governments in Congress-ruled Meghalaya and Nagaland, where the BJP shares power with the Nagaland People's Front, said they will not participate in the programme that seeks to push the Centre’s digital drive. In Mizoram, also ruled by the Congress, there is resentment over holding the central government programme on Good Friday that marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said his state will not participate in Digital India Day programmes. The chief secretary has already taken up the matter with the union cabinet secretary and expressed the state’s displeasure over observing Digital India Day on the same day as Good Friday, he added.
“It is a matter of concern … We have to be candid in asking what their agenda is and it is the complete decimation of the secular fabric. The country is facing challenging circumstances,” the chief minister said.
The Meghalaya unit of the BJP has also sought deferment of the programme.
Nagaland chief secretary Pankaj Kumar said the day being a public holiday, the state government would not observe any activity related to promotion of digital payment on April 14.
“Government of India held a video conferencing on April 7, participated by state government officers, wherein it was informed that Nagaland was not included in the list.” Kumar said.
In Mizoram, the Young Mizo Association, a powerful non-governmental organisation, said the central government had instructed the state government to organise a Digi Dhan Mela on Good Friday and that it was “totally objectionable”. It urged the state government not to organise the event to promote digital transactions or any other official function on Good Friday.
BJP ally National People’s Party has also sought deferment of Digital India Day.
Lok Sabha MP an NPP leader Conrad K Sangma wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking deferment of Digital India Day programmes.
In his letter, Conrad said: “It is learnt that Digital India Day (DID) this year falls on Good Friday. I express my best wishes for the celebration of DID but with deepest and sincere concern of the Christian community, I suggest you to kindly defer Digital Day so that the secular fabric of India remained honoured.”
