By Allen Brooks

Udalguri, March 14, 2024: More than 25,000 Christians representing various denominations gathered at Udalguri town in Assam on March 14 to pray for peace and harmony in the nation.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of the northeastern Indian state passing the controversial Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, and attacks on Christian institutions by certain groups ahead of the 2024 General Elections

Udalguri District’s Christian Coordination Committee organized the gathering at the Udalguri Nalbari Play Ground, some 115 km northeast of Guwahati, Assam’s main city. The event aimed to unite people from diverse backgrounds under the common goal of fostering peace and harmony.

The 90-minute prayer was attended among denominations Baptists, Catholics, and Church of North India members.

The gathering comprised people from different ethnic, linguistic communities of Assam such as Boro, Adivasi (commonly known as Tea Tribes), Santhal, Garos, Rabhas, Nepalis, and the Assamese.

The organizers claimed the spontaneous participation reflected people’s concern and anxiety regarding the need for justice and equal treatment of all citizens in the matters of faith, culture and practices.

Reverend Susil Daimari, secretary of the Church Growth Department at BBC, in his message, stressed the urgent need for peace and harmony in the nation.

The participants collectively prayed, focusing primarily on justice, peace and harmony across the nation. The prayers reflected the collective desire for a more unified and peaceful society, the organizers said.

Troubles began for the Assam Christians in early February when a Hindu group gave Christian schools in Assam an ultimatum to remove from them Christian symbols including religious habits and cassocks.

Addressing a press conference on February 7, Satya Ranjan Borah, president of the Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (family protection council) threatened dire consequences for Christian schools that defied their 15-day ultimatum.

After the deadline ended, threatening posters began to appear in front of Christian educational institutions.

Carmel School in Jorhat sought police protection after the poster was found pasted on its wall.

The poster “has created a sense of panic in the school campus,” Apostolic Carmel Sister Rose Fatima, principal of the school, said in her complaint on Feb. 17.

The Apostolic Carmel congregations opened the school six decades ago.

“We have always strived to create an atmosphere of peace,” Sister Fatima said in the complaint.

The Hindu groups also asked Catholic priests, nuns and religious brothers not to wear cassocks and habits in schools.

The Hindu groups justified that their move was necessary to prevent religious conversions tribal people and other vulnerable groups.

The Assam Christian Forum, an inter-denominational Christian body, said Christians are disturbed by the Hindu group’s demand.