Shillong: The National People’s Party (NPP), which heads the Meghalaya government, has urged the Centre to reconsider its reported decision to deny an entry visa to US evangelist Rev Franklin Graham, leading to the cancellation of his November 30 programme in Kohima, Nagaland.
In a letter to the Union government, NPP national working president James PK Sangma said the organiser — the Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship — was deeply disappointed, noting that thousands of people had prepared to attend the event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
Sangma recalled Nagaland’s historical ties with the Graham family, citing Rev Billy Graham’s landmark visit to the state in 1972.
He said Franklin Graham’s planned programme was viewed as a moment of “spiritual renewal” for Christian communities across the Northeast.
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According to Sangma, several church leaders and civil society groups have expressed anguish to the NPP, warning that the perception of a peaceful religious gathering being halted over visa issues could fuel “misunderstanding and alienation” in the predominantly Christian region.
While acknowledging the Centre’s authority over foreign entry regulations, he appealed for a review of the decision.
Allowing Graham’s visit within legal parameters, Sangma said, would reassure Christian communities and underscore India’s commitment to religious freedom.
