KOHIMA: Christian organisations in the Northeast have begun to voice their criticism over the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024 recently passed in the state. The latest entity to join the outcry is the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC).
In a stern rebuke aimed at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the NBCC has condemned the Bill, labelling it as a manifestation of “religious bigotry” and “insensitive act”.
Expressing deep disappointment, the NBCC issued a statement through its general secretary Rev. Dr Zelhou Keyho on February 22, denouncing Sarma’s characterisation of the Bill as “important legislation”.
The organisation criticised the Assam Cabinet’s endorsement of the Bill, which aims to outlaw magical healing practices under the pretext of curtailing evangelism.
The NBCC articulated that equating healing practices with evangelism represents a direct assault on the Christian community, lamenting the endorsement of such legislation by a Chief Minister of a state in the Northeast.
Furthermore, the organisation underscored that any legislative measure should be inclusive and mindful of the diverse socio-ethnic and religious-cultural fabric of the region.
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It emphasised the necessity for clear definitions within the proposed legislation to dispel suspicions and ensure fairness.
Highlighting the substantial contributions of Christian institutions in healthcare, the organisation pointed to Christian hospitals providing accessible medical care irrespective of caste or creed.
It denounced the proposed legislation as not only discriminatory but also vindictive.
Earlier, a day after the Assam cabinet endorsed the Bill on February 10, the Assam Christian Forum slammed the chief minister for his “misguided and misleading” statement equating magical healing with proselytization.
“Healing, in our context, is not synonymous with proselytization. It is a compassionate response to human suffering, irrespective of religious affiliations,” the forum had said, insisting that labelling prayer as magical healing oversimplifies the profound spiritual dimensions of faith and life.
As discussions surrounding the Assam Healing Practices Bill 2024 continue, the voices of dissent from religious organisations serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding fundamental rights and fostering inclusivity within legislative frameworks.
