AIZAWL, July 24 - The Mizoram BJP unit today officially launched a missionary cell, with an aim to remove the so-called �anti-Christian� tag from the saffron party.
Lalhriatrenga Chhangte, retired Deputy Controller of Mines (Indian Bureau of Mines), has been made the chairman of the missionary cell which is, in fact, his brainchild.
Launching the cell, Mizoram BJP president Prof JV Hluna said Chhangte met BJP�s North East zonal general secretary Ajay Jamwal at Guwahati on June 25 during which the former offered to join the BJP on condition that the Mizoram BJP sets up a missionary cell. �After a detailed discussion, Ajay gave the nod to setting up of a missionary cell under the State BJP. Accordingly, Chhangte joined the party on July 12. The State BJP on July 17 released a statement announcing the formation of the missionary cell,� Hluna said.
Julie Vanpari has been appointed secretary of the cell. Three committee members have also been appointed. The basic objective of the missionary cell is to help Christian missionaries from Mizoram working in different parts of the country and to protect them from persecution and baseless allegations levelled by local people.
The missionary cell will have a dedicated team that will address the problems faced by Christian missionaries and will soon launch a 24x7 helpline.
The missionary cell is expected to change the BJP�s unpopular image in the State that it indulges in communal politics, a major reason for its defeat in the Assembly elections held in November, 2018. This was also the reason why the Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the BJP�s North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), distanced itself from the BJP in the State politics.
