
CV NEWS FEED // After declaring Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday “working days” this year in the Indian state of Manipur, the state government was forced the next day to rescind the declaration following backlash from local Christians.
AsiaNews reported that the state government issued an order on March 27 that declared March 30 and 31 “as working days for all Government Offices … for smooth functioning of Offices in the last few days of the Financial Year (2023-24).” Public servants were supposed to report to work, but following an outcry from locals, the government retracted its statement on March 28.
“It is likely that the Union government in New Delhi gave state authorities their marching orders, and told them to avoid unnecessary tensions with Christians during the ongoing election campaign,” AsiaNews reported, referring to the Indian general elections. Those elections are scheduled to begin on April 19.
Due to ethnic and religious clashes, tensions have risen in the state of Manipur for the last several months. Fr. Varghese Velickakam, vicar general of the Diocese of Imphal in Manipur, told Asia News that the government’s actions were disrespectful to the local Christians.
“With Christians from the Naga, Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities representing 41.29 per cent of the [state] population, Manipur chose to undermine their presence and disrespect their feelings by blatantly stating that it is ‘pleased to declare 30th (Holy Saturday) and 31st (Easter Sunday) March 2024, as working days,’” Fr. Velickakam said.
According to the priest, the government should know Easter’s significance among Christians.
“From a government that has allowed the conflict and the suffering of its people to continue for almost 11 months, what else can be expected? Let us pray that India and its citizens see what is happening in the New India,” he concluded.
