SHILLONG:
The North East India Christian Council (NEICC) organised a candlelight vigil to express its solidarity with the people of Manipur at All Saint’s Cathedral on Tuesday.
Leaders and representatives of various church bodies in and around the city took part in the candlelight vigil for peace in Manipur. They also displayed placards that read: “We pray for peace in Manipur”, “It’s time to stop the violence”, “Love heals, hatred hurts” and “Violence never solves, dialogue does”.
Vice-president of the NEICC, Shillong, Rev S R Dkhar said, “(We) gathered this evening to pray for the restoration of peace and harmony in the strife torn state of Manipur.”
He added that the citizens of Manipur had desperately hoped that violence would cease after the visit of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. However, to their dismay the situation on the ground remained unchanged deepening the anguish of the affected population.
“It has been more than a month where reconciliation seems to be a distant dream. In fact the situation has made everyone across Manipur to become so rigid and parochial that no one seems to think and act for the good and welfare of the state, especially for those who have suffered due to the unmindful violence,” Dkhar added.
He further stated that the aim of the peace vigil is to bring the churches in the North East India together with the intention to pray and express solidarity with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, those who have been left homeless with nothing and displace to different places within the state and those who have suffered the psychological scar by witnessing the violence and death being perpetrated to their near and dear ones.
It is also to pray for the church, religious community leaders across the society to have wisdom, understanding and responsibility to come together to initiate the process of reconciliation.
Dkhar also stated that the vigil is also for safeguarding religious freedom in Manipur. He said it has been reported that more than 300 religious places of worship have been burnt down and destroyed signaling the loss of freedom to worship.
“(We also) pray for the leaders and those in power in the state of Manipur and in our country that concrete steps may address the situation and issues therein in order that their problems may be resolved,” he said.
“This vigil appeals to all leaders across the social and political spectrum in NE to come together because we believe they can play a vital role for restoration of peace in Manipur,” Dkhar added.