Leading Christian figure in the restive Kashmir region, father Sebastian Nagathunkal on Monday applauded Kashmir for exhibiting religious tolerance. He said as compared to other states of India, Kashmir is better and people tolerate each other.
Addressing a gathering at the Interfaith Dialogue at the All Saints Church, also known as All Hallows Church, here on Monday, at the posh Church Lane area, he said, “when we look around there is much of cruelty and hatred and when we look around our own country the minority has become a threat to the majority. It is unreasonable as we have been living in coexistence. I am happy to say that Kashmir is still having tolerance for one another and this is a sign we are together today, particularly on this occasion when we celebrate God’s goodness.”
Father Sebastian is also the Principal of Burn Hall School, a top Christian Missionary School in the State.
All Saints Church is a historical Protestant Church in Srinagar, which is part of the Church of North India, a province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. All Saints Church falls within the Diocese of Amritsar and along with Holy Family Catholic Church is one of the two Christian churches in Srinagar.
The interfaith dialogue was organized by the Foundation for Resource Development and Education, an NGO run by the BJP leader and party’s state spokesman, Khalid Jehangir.
While the government of India had asked states to increase security for Christmas celebrations this year after attacks on Christians in northern India, in the Valley the local government had taken no extraordinary security measures as there was no threat perception. Christians in Kashmir celebrated Christmas with Muslims greeting the minuscule minority on social media and other forums.
“The spirit of Christmas is to love, to share and to be at peace with one another and that is the message God gives us…I am happy the foundation (NGO) made it point to come together to show our Kashmir is better than any other state and have the tolerance to listen to one another,” Father Sebastian said.
On the occasion, different speakers from Muslim, Sikh, and Kashmiri Pandit community highly praised the role of Christian missionaries for their work in the education and health sector in the Kashmir region.
The programme started by lighting candles inside the church and ended with the cutting of a Christmas cake.
Khalid Jehangir talking to reporters after the event said Kashmir and Kashmiriyat were safe with India. Kashmiriyat is referred to a syncretic Sufi culture of tolerance in Kashmir.
“As a Kashmiri, it is in our blood to safeguard rights of the minority,” Jehangir said. He also rejected that Kashmiri Muslims were responsible for migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the early 1990s and described it as a canard. He said the migration took place “because of proxy war of Pakistan which is continuing.”
