বাথৌ ধৰ্মক লৈ এনবিচিচিৰ স্পষ্ট মতঃ ‘জাতিগত পৰিচয় এক, ধৰ্মীয় বিশ্বাস ভিন্ন’

According to Asomiya Pratidin, the National Bodo Christian Council (NBCC) has issued a formal statement regarding the recent recognition of Bathouism as an independent religion. The council expressed support for the preservation and promotion of indigenous culture and traditions, extending congratulations to the followers of the Bathou faith on their achievement.

However, the NBCC raised concerns regarding public calls for all Bodo people to register their religion as 'Bathou' in upcoming census and government documents. The organization argued that pressuring individuals to declare a religious identity that they do not personally practice or subscribe to raises significant constitutional, legal, and ethical questions.

Citing Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion, the NBCC emphasized that religious identity remains a matter of personal belief. The council maintains that while the recognition of Bathouism is a milestone for the community, it should not supersede the individual rights of citizens to identify with their own faith in official records, including voter lists and census data.