India’s only Catholic Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma of Meghalaya, has reaffirmed his deep faith in God as he works to restore peace following recent violence in the northeastern Indian state.
“My life is not in anyone else’s hands but in the hands of God,” Sangma said while responding to threats from a protester who warned of burning his house. The chief minister added that he places his trust firmly in God, saying, “My hand is in the hand of God.”
Sangma, who leads the hill state bordering Bangladesh, said his faith guides his public service and commitment to the welfare of the people. He also acknowledged the influence of his father, the late P.A. Sangma, a respected national political leader, whose legacy of public service continues to inspire him.
The Chief Minister recently voiced concern over unrest in parts of Meghalaya, where incidents of vandalism and violence have been reported. Government properties and religious places were damaged, and there were reports of homes being intruded upon during the disturbances.
Sangma said such acts do not reflect the values of the people of Meghalaya and called on citizens to remain calm.
“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and restraint,” he said, urging the public to avoid violence and instead seek solutions through dialogue and democratic engagement.
The call for peace comes after two people were killed in election-related violence in West Garo Hills on March 10, 2026.
Sangma urged citizens to respect democratic institutions and work together to restore harmony in the state.
“Our priority must be the welfare of the community and the stability of the state,” he said, encouraging people to pursue peaceful and constructive ways of addressing grievances.
Earlier this year, Sangma was honored by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) with the inaugural CBCI National Award 2026 during the bishops’ 37th General Body Meeting held on February 9 at St. John’s Medical College in Bengaluru.
The award recognized his contributions to society, particularly in promoting human dignity, justice, education, and leadership. Sangma was among 19 individuals honored by the bishops’ conference.
Church leaders said the recognition also highlighted Sangma’s efforts to foster cooperation between the government and the Church in initiatives related to development and social service.
For Sangma, faith remains central to his leadership as he navigates political challenges and works to maintain peace in the northeastern state.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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