RIMS Authority Notified to Remove Two Churches

New Delhi, April 1, 2012

The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur summoned Church elders and ordered to remove two church constructions within 15 days. All India Christian Council took up the matter with one and only the standing member of first Lok Sabha and appealed to the National Commission for Minorities to protect the interest of Minority rights. Christian Council condemns the irresponsible decision of RIMS to vacate the sanctity of church buildings by force.

According to the request letter addressed to the President of All India Christian Council from Lamphel Baptist Church, Imphal, Manipur said, “the Office of the Deputy (Admin), RIMS summoned the elders of Lamphel Baptist Church and Rongmei Naga Baptist Church on March 29 and served 15 days notice to remove the church building otherwise the authority will destroy the church buildings by force.”

Dr. John Dayal – Member of National Integration Council and Secretary General of All India Christian Council and Rev. Madhu Chandra – Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline took up the matter with honourable Member of Parliament and Former Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri Rishang Keishing yesterday and conveyed the grievances faced by the members of two churches with RIMS campus. Shri Rishang Keishing has assured to take up the matter with Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri O. Ibobi Singh.

Dr. John Dayal has been closely following the matters related to minority rights and interest in the state of Manipur. He says, “The Christian members in the state of Manipur are increasing facing the threat from public as well as from the state Government. It is the duty of the elected government to protect and serve the interest of minorities in the state.”

Rev. Madhu Chandra says, “Lamphel Baptist Church and Rongmei Naga Baptist Church have been existed within the campus for last forty years. It has become sanctity of religious place. The authorities of RIMS, serving 15 days notice to remove otherwise to destroy forcefully is the irresponsible decision. The decision violates the fundamental rights of religious minorities and insults the religious sentimental.”

The All India Christian Council has taken up the matter with National Commission of Minorities and Manipur State Minority Commission so that the interest of Minorities must be protected.

All India Christian Council calls upon the Authority of RIMS to adopt the way PGI Chandigarh, (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh), where the authority has setup the religious places – Temple for Hindus, Gurdwara for Sikhs, Mosque for Muslims and Church for Christians within the campus. This will help the people to live in peace, harmony and co-existence among all sections of societies, particularly for the state like Manipur where heterogeneous communities live together.

The Lamphel Baptist Church was established by the employees of the Regional Medical College, now Regional Institutes of Medical Sciences in 1973 for the purpose of prayer, worship and the members of the church belong to Meiteis, Nepalis, Tangkhul, Thadou, Kuki, Vaiphe, Mao, Rongmei, Inpui, Lianmei, Tarao, Anal, Monsang, Kom, Hmar, Chiru, Aimol, Lamkang, Mayon, Maring, and Paite. The 70% of the members of the church are the employees of RIMS. The space occupied by Lamphel Baptist church is just 100 x 70 feet.

Many churches among Meitei and Rongmei villages have been destroyed and Christians have been attacked in last 15 years in the state of Manipur. Two churches in Naga River, Imphal are currently served to vacate and churches in Lamphel housing colony threatened to vacate.

The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

Released by
Madhu Chandra
Regional Secretary