Shillong, Mar 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Meghalaya has continued to strongly distance itself from a statement made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member Sunil Deodhar, which has kicked up a storm in the state since last month.
Today state BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang stated that Deodhar has no association with the Meghalaya unit of the party.
Kharkrang emphasised that not a single BJP leader from anywhere in the country has supported Deodhar’s statements and that the party’s central leadership has heard the strong protest from the state BJP president and MLAs.
Deodhar had made certain comments during the Indigenous Faith Conference held in Pynter on February 22. Formal complaints have been filed with police over his speech and the politician has since apologised.
Kharkrang minced no words when he stated that Deodhar’s comments were “disgusting” and that the party leadership has taken him to task. He assured that the party respects all religions and will not allow anything to be said against the Christian community or any other religion.
The BJP has struggled to gain much of a foothold in Christian-majority Meghalaya, where there is a deep distrust of its Hindutva agenda.
Kharkrang appealed to the public not to be swayed by malicious statements and emphasised the importance of respecting all human beings and religions.
