Shillong, Jan 3: Association of Niamtre Students of Shillong has opposed the move of Education Minister Rakkam Sangma to have a Christian religious ceremony for the inauguration of first state university, on January 13.
The university is named after first Chief Minister Captain Williamson Sangma.
In a statement issued on Friday,Teinam Dkhar, General Secretary of the association wanted the state government to stop the politicization of religion, and instead focus on quality education.
“Our attention is drawn to the illogical and irresponsible statement by the Honourable Minister of Education, Mr Rakkam A Sangma. The Minister’s claim that Meghalaya is a Christian state would be tantamount to the contradiction of the very structure of the Indian State. Our Constitution and the associated statutory laws defined our political character as secular-democratic. Through court rulings, in Kesavanada vs State of Kerala (AIR 1973 S.C. 1461) and in Indira vs Rajnarain (AIR 1975 S.C. 2299) the Supreme Court has observed that by secularism, it meant that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on the grounds of religion only and that the State shall have no religion of its own”, Dkhar said.
“The Sein Niamtre Ki Khynnah Purea Shillong (Association of Niamtre Students) calls upon the Honourable Minister to refrain from such ridiculous statements and to stop the politicisation of religion once and for all, since no one can claim for Meghalaya the name of a Christian state, in the legal sense of the word”, he said.
The association has urged the minister to focus on providing quality education in schools and colleges across the state and to develop a sense of dignity, self-respect, and self-reliance among students of Meghalaya and also ensure timely disbursement of scholarships.
