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Christians leaders in Meghalaya have sought the intervention External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj after visa was denied to Baptist World Alliance Chief Reverend Paul Msiza to attend the 150 years of Christianity in Garo Hills region.
Parliamentarian from the poll-bound state, Conrad K. Sangma of National People’s Party which is an ally of ruling BJP, has written to Swaraj to help the the Baptist preacher to attend the sesquicentenary celebrations of Christian arrival here.
The Garo Baptist Convention is celebrating 150 years of Christianity at Rajasimla in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills from February 8-11. The Baptist Church set foot in Garo Hills at Rajasimla in 1867.
“The Christians communities, especially from Baptist community in Garo Hills are very upset with the central government for rejecting the visa of the Baptist leader,” Vice President of Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Bijoy Sangma said.
He said that the Visa application of Msiza was rejected by the Consulate General of India in Johannesburg, South Africa on Feb 7.
“It was shocking to get the news of rejection of the Visa by the Indian Consulate. We are extremely disappointed that we are going to miss the Global head of the Baptist Christian community on this historic occasion.
The BWA President for us is the Pastoral head of the Baptists Community worldwide like His Holiness the Pope of the Catholic community,” the Baptist leader said.
“This is not the only case; many of our foreign friends have been denied visa in the last three years despite the fact that they have been coming here on earlier occasions,” of Garo Baptist Convention General Secretary, Reverend Janang R Sangma, said.
The BJP which is trying to unseat the ruling Congress party from power in Christian-dominated state of Meghalaya on February 27 assembly elections, have refused to comment on the matter.
Source: The Indian Express