The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has expelled its member, Avner Medon Pariat for his alleged anti-party statements made on social media.
An expulsion letter was sent to Pariat today by the chairman of the VPP disciplinary committee, Kara H Shen and secretary Grossper Ryntathiang.
The decision to expel Pariat was taken by the state executive committee of the VPP. “The party has taken serious note of your recent statements made against the party in favour of another political party through social media platform which is unbecoming for a member of the State Executive Committee,” Shen said.
According to the VPP, Pariat’s statements and behaviour have damaged the image of the party and undermined its efforts to strengthen the party. “This act of indiscipline on your part has left us with no option but to expel you from the party with immediate effect,” the letter reads.
Pariat had contested the last assembly elections from the East Shillong constituency.
When contacted, Pariat told Highland Post that he had the intention to resign from the party and even sent a draft letter to some party functionaries on April 16. “I had wanted to make it official after the Lok Sabh polls so as not to disrupt the election campaign,” he said.
Asked on what social media post the VPP had taken exception to, Pariat said, “Ask them (VPP) because I don’t know what it was that has damaged its image.”
According to Pariat, he had joined the VPP with a belief that it stood for positive change, which is the need of the hour. “However, as time passed, I have become increasingly disillusioned by the direction the party has taken,” he added.
“The party’s shift towards religious fanaticism has been particularly troubling for me as I was never raised (though I come from a long line of servants of the Presbyterian Church) to be overcome by religious fervour. The promise of progress that once inspired me to join this party has been replaced by a regressive agenda that I can no longer support in good conscience,” Pariat said in the draft resignation letter.
He further said, “Many supporters have urged me to stay silent and to speak out only once I am MDC (which I have a strong chance of winning) but it is against my principles to be duplicitous. Hence, I feel it is better to exit gracefully while the party is still at its high point rather than at its nadir. “
Pariat expressed his desire to retire from the state electoral politics, which according to him has become “divisive and cruel.”
“I was known for being an independent critic and I will return to this role as I feel it is the best fit for me as I endeavour to expand the minds and ideas of the people. I will not join any other political party in the immediate future so my silence about party meetings and discussions is guaranteed. Instead, I will return to my pen, and planning table, as I seek out a future for the state through my own socialist ideals,” he said.
