DIMAPUR, Nov 29: A heated political confrontation has unfolded in Nagaland following the cancellation of American evangelist Rev. Dr. Franklin Graham’s scheduled visit on November 30, after the Union government reportedly denied him a visa.
The NPF on Saturday rejected the NPCC’s allegation that the party or the state government had any role in the visa denial, calling the charge baseless and misleading. The party accused the Congress of attempting to “exploit the sentiments of the Christian community” for political gain.
According to the NPF, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio made persistent efforts at the highest levels to secure the visa, including letters to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 18, October 29, November 17, and a follow-up DO letter on November 26. Despite this, the party said no response was received from the Ministry of Home Affairs as of November 29. It also claimed that Graham’s team had not received any update from the Indian Embassy in Washington by November 28.
The NPF maintained that the state government was fully prepared to host Rev. Graham at the opening ceremony of the 26th Hornbill Festival. It further highlighted that the state Cabinet had, on January 6, resolved to seek withdrawal of the re-imposed Protected Area Permit (PAP), a decision later endorsed by the party’s central executive committee on November 27.
Earlier on Friday, the NPCC sharply criticised the Union government’s decision, calling it discriminatory and an affront to the Christian community of Nagaland. In a statement, the NPCC said the denial reflected systematic and intolerant policies of the BJP-RSS regime aimed at suppressing religious minorities.
The NPCC also accused the NPF of complete inaction and held both the NPF and BJP MLAs from Nagaland responsible for failing to intervene. It said BJP legislators had “lost the moral right” to remain in the Assembly and demanded their resignation for allegedly prioritising party loyalty over the sentiments of the Christian-majority state.
The party argued that the visa refusal amounted to a “direct assault on the freedom of faith guaranteed by the Constitution” and urged the public not to overlook what it described as the hypocrisy of the NPF and BJP.
Meanwhile, the Kohima Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship (KBPF), the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) confirmed the cancellation of the evangelist’s visit. Preparations had been underway for weeks to welcome Graham, who was scheduled to visit Nagaland more than 50 years after his father, Dr. Billy Graham, delivered the historic 1972 “Kohima Miracle” crusade that drew over one lakh people. A road in Kohima was later named Billy Graham Road in his honour.
