State says ‘no’ to Digital India Day

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, APR 11: The Meghalaya government has expressed its strong opposition against the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to observe the “Digital India Day” on a Good Friday, which is a sacred day for the Christians.

Addressing the newsmen here, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the state government has maintained that Meghalaya will not participate in such programmes which aim at diluting the secular fabric of the nation.

“I will be writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it is necessary for me to express concern on behalf of the people with special reference to the North East which have major chunk of Christian community,” Sangma said.

He said information to the Union Cabinet Secretary have also been sent from the state government.

Lambasting at the NDA leadership, Sangma said looking at the Centre’s programmes, they are contrary to the whole principle and ideology of the nation adding, “We have to be candid in asking what is their agenda”.

“The identification of dates – observing of Good Governance Day on Christmas and now Digital India Day on Good Friday – is it that they (BJP led NDA) are trying to marginalize the minority,” he said.

Stating that such decision will lead to unforeseen problem which will affect the overall peaceful coexistence of the people, Sangma said, “It will lead to creating a fertile soil for the “seed of hatred” to germinate and flourish.”

Earlier, the state government and the people of Meghalaya had also denounced the decision of the Centre government to observe the Good Governance Day on Christmas Day on December 25.