An exhortation by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member for a memorial to murder victim Raja Raghuvanshi in Sohra has embarrassed the saffron party, with its chief Meghalaya spokesperson today making it clear that such a proposal was purely personal.
In a recent media report, BJP member James Syiemiong urged the state government to construct a viewpoint at Sohra and name it after Raghuvanshi. Spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said that every individual has the right to air personal opinions but such opinions should not be paraded as part of the BJP’s official agenda.
The BJP Meghalaya unit added that while Syiemiong may have used a letter carrying the party symbol, his views remain his alone and do not reflect those of the party, which has not held any discussion on the matter of a Raghuvanshi memorial.
Meanwhile, the banned Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) took umbrage with Syiemiong’s request. Firstly, it said that, as a tourist, Raghuvanshi had no historical, cultural or ancestral connection to Sohra and naming part of Khasi-Jaintia territory after him would “insult the dignity” of the local community.
The rebel group also attacked the BJP as a promoter of “Hindu, Brahamnical ideology” that is supposedly alien to these hills.
