Shillong: Following a news report published on Thursday that a nun from
South Garo Hills, was subjected to harassment when traveling from Dudhnoi to Goalpara in Assam, TMC
Charles Pyngrope moved a zero hour notice in the house during the budget session.
Pyngrope mentioned that Sister Rosemary, serving at St. John’s parish, Siju, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya was traveling from Dudhnoi to Goalpara on February 17. She boarded a bus at 11 am from Dudhnoi.
“Soon after, the bus conductor and some of the passengers began to make derogatory remarks at her on her religious habits and her faith. After some time, they stopped the bus at an isolated place and she was forced to alight from the bus. The incident caused serious mental agony and harassment to Sister Rosemary both as a woman and a religious person. With the help of some other people, the Sister then took another bus to proceed to Goalpara”, narrated Pyngrope.
He said that there are numerous religious priests and nuns in Assam who wear their religious dress as any other place in the country. “Harassment of people because they wear a particular dress or practise a religious habit is ridiculous and unheard of. Such incidents take place because of a false narrative and propaganda spread against a particular religion. It is the duty of the Government to take adequate steps to curb such propaganda and create an atmosphere of social and religious harmony among the citizens,” mentioned Pyngrope.
He further urged the government to take note of this incident and other incidents reported in the media and to take up the matter with the
Assam Government so that incidents such as the one mentioned above may not be repeated.
Leader of the Opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, submitted a petition to the chief minister expressing their concern about the incident and emphasising the expectation that such incidents should not recur.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma responded that since the zero hour notice was brought in themorning, the written statement would be placed and given to members.
In a short reply, Sangma assured the House that the matter has been taken up with the Assam Chief Minister who has assured to take necessary actions. The chief minister mentioned that he was informed of the incident the day it happened by one of the Bishops.
“I immediately took it up with CM Assam, so the matter has been brought to his notice. He has officially informed us that he will take necessary action. We are waiting for more details because the information we received was not sufficient to be able to pursue the matter in an official capacity,” said Sangma.
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The Chief Minister added that the person affected by the incident was in a state of shock and not comfortable providing all the details immediately. The government is awaiting more information as they currently only possess details such as the time and location of her travel.
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