Various Christian groups in Assam have demanded action against Surendra Kumar Jain, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), after he made controversial remarks accusing Churches of being involved in drug trafficking. Jain made the statements on October 27 during an event in Haflong, Dima Hasao District, to honour Joya Thaosen, a freedom fighter who died fighting the British.
In his speech, Jain claimed that Churches in the region were linked to drug trafficking, which he said was harming the youth. His comments have sparked outrage among local Christian groups. The United Christian Forum of Dimahasou, the United Christian Forum of Karbi Anglong, and the Assam Christian Forum (ACF) issued a joint statement on November 5, expressing “deep shock and dismay” over his “divisive remarks.”
The ACF called Jain’s accusations “baseless” and said they were a deliberate attempt to attack the Christian community. “We believe that Jain’s statements are harmful and try to malign the entire Christian faith,” the group stated. “His remarks undermine the positive contributions of Christians in the region.”
The Christian groups also condemned Jain for using the occasion, meant to honour Joya Thaosen, to spread religious division. “Jain’s comments are seen as an insult to Thaosen’s legacy, which stood for unity and secular values,” they said.
The groups pointed out that Christians have long been involved in various fields like education, healthcare, and social welfare in northeastern India, contributing positively to the region. “The Christian community’s work has had a lasting impact, bringing positive change to countless lives,” the statement added.
They also rejected Jain’s claims of Church involvement in illicit activities as untrue and inflammatory. “Such divisive rhetoric sows seeds of mistrust and harms the unity that has allowed different communities to live together peacefully in Dima Hasao,” they said.
The Christian groups urged all community leaders to avoid making inflammatory statements that threaten communal peace. “We call on everyone to stand united against such harmful rhetoric,” they said.
The groups reaffirmed their commitment to compassion and service to all communities in northeastern India. “We will continue to work for the good of all, with a commitment to human dignity and inclusiveness,” they concluded.
Joya Thaosen, born in 1925, was an important figure in Assam’s history. She opposed British rule at the age of 19 and led the Revolutionary Dimasa Army. Thaosen fought in the Battle of Kohima alongside Subhash Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauz and died in 1944 during a battle against the British near Dimapur.
