CM reviews virus crisis with religious leaders
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, June 02 2021:
Subsequent to chief minister N Biren Singh's interaction with religious leaders on varied issues arising out of the prevailing pandemic situation, All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) has given a clarion call to all the churches to hold special prayer session with strict adherence to the safety protocols and every Christian family to pray in their respective home on June 6.Interacting with leaders of different religious organisations to create more awareness about COVID-19 among the masses at his Secretariat office on Tuesday, N Biren said that the government has been putting in all possible efforts to ensure that nobody dies of COVID-19 in the state due to shortage of medicine, oxygen, equipment, manpower, etc.
"The government is also trying hard to effectively implement the SOPs and create as much awareness about the pandemic as possible.
As such, the meeting has been called understanding the roles which religious bodies and leaders can play in sensitising the public," the CM informed the limited gathering.
Noting that the religious leaders can immensely contribute towards educating the masses not only on the importance of following the SOPs but also on the need for early detection of the disease through timely testing and early medication through vaccination, he also observed that such awareness can be well spread through churches, mosques and temples.
Later, it was resolved in the meeting that as there is the need for a joint effort now, religious bodies and leaders should take proactive roles in spreading awareness.
A joint prayer of all religions to seek divine intervention to end COVID-19 and save everybody from the pandemic would also be held at the western gate of Kangla at 10 am on June 7.Apart from it, a mass prayer for the people of Christian faith will be held across the state on June 6.Similarly, mass prayer for Muslims and Hindus would be held on June 4 while the date for mass prayer of Sanamahi religion would be announced later.
Public Health Engineering minister L Dikho, CAF and PD minister Th Satyabrata, Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, representatives of All Manipur Christian Organisation, Sanamahi Temple Board, All Manipur Catholic Union, Govindajee Temple Board, Diocesan Social Service Society, Jamait-Ul-Ulama and other religious organisations of Islam faith attended the interaction session.
Meanwhile, with reference to the CM convened interaction session, All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) said that the gathering resolved to set aside a day for everyone to pray to God confessing our sins and ask for forgiveness and for His mercy to stop the pandemic and to appeal to all the pastors and church leadership to create awareness about the pandemic to the whole Christian populace.
"Accordingly, AMCO earnestly appeals to all the churches irrespective of denominations to conduct special prayer session be conducted on June 6 (Sunday) morning and every family holds prayers in their own houses in the early hours of the day by avoiding food and drink," said a statement issued by AMCO president Reverend S Prim Vaiphei.
The prayer shall focus on confessing all our sins and wrong doings committed to our God, repent and give up all unrighteous behaviours which oppose the Lord, earnestly pray to the Lord that in His Mercy and in the Name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, this dreaded Covid-19 pandemic be removed and life on our state be brought back to normalcy, said the president.
He also called upon all the pastors, church leaders and leaders/workers of Church Associations/parachurch organisations, etc., to engage in creating awareness about the pandemic and the need to strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the government which is for our own good.
"We are all aware that to save our people from such a pandemic is our Christian duty.
We do trust that our fellow believers, servants of the Lord will not neglect this call for a noble service of saving lives," added Reverend Prim Vaiphei.