Shillong, Feb 25:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) found itself in damage-control mode after comments by one of its politicians, Sunil Deodhar, on Christianity drew widespread condemnation.
Deodhar had been invited to address an indigenous faith conference in Pynter, under Pynursla sub-division, recently where he made a statement that has been castigated by the state unit of the BJP and at least two pressure groups, one of which filed the FIR.
Yesterday, Wankitbok Pohshna, general secretary of BJP Meghalaya, wrote to Deodhar, founder of My Home India and a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member who has had several years of experience working to promote the Hindutva organisation in Meghalaya and the wider North East. Pohshna expressed “deep concern, immeasurable anguish and utter disbelief” over Deodhar’s comments against Christians at Pynter.
In the letter, Pohshna said Deodhar’s remarks demonstrated “severe bias” and “contempt for the Holy Bible”, and mocked Jesus Christ, causing hurt to the Christian community and undermining principles of inclusivity.
Pohshna urged Deodhar to retract his statements and issue a public apology, reaffirming commitment to harmony and respect for all faiths.
Today, Deodhar wrote back to Pohshna where he stated that he has “immense” respect for Jesus Christ and “deep affection” for the Christian community.
“It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of any Christian brother or sister. If any of my words have been perceived as disrespectful or have caused pain, I sincerely regret the same,” he added.
Deodhar made it clear that the subject under discussion at the conference was the preservation, protection and development concerns of indigenous faith communities. “My remarks were made strictly within that context and were not intended as a general comment against Christianity or any other religion,” he said. “If sections of indigenous faith followers feel deprived of development or neglected because they do not belong to the majority religion in certain areas, raising their concerns should not be construed as hostility towards another faith. Advocating justice and equal opportunity for one community does not amount to hatred against another. A majoritarian attitude of any kind is not acceptable.”
My Home India, the organisation Deodhar founded, ostensibly provides help to North Easterners living outside their states in mainland India. In the letter to Pohshna, he said that the organisation has held annual Christmas celebrations for North East Christian youth.
Today, two FIRs were filed separately against Deodhar alleging hate speech and communal provocation.
NCP State Youth President Dapkupar Nongrum in the FIR sought action against Deodhar under Sections 196/197, 299, and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.
Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) secretary Balajied Jyrwa expressed distress over a YouTube video of Deodhar’s speech, saying it misrepresents the Khasi-Pnar community’s history and culture, aiming to stir division, especially against Christians.
The complaint states Deodhar’s claims are misleading and hurtful and undermine communal harmony. It cites Deodhar’s remarks about Jesus Christ and Christianity, saying they could inflame tensions and harm minority communities.
Meanwhile, the Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) staged a protest near the BJP office in Shillong today condemning Deodhar. The HYC slammed Deodhar’s comments as “political poison” aimed at dividing the peaceful existence of people following different faiths in Meghalaya.
Protesters symbolically burnt an effigy of Deodhar and demanded immediately withdrawal of his statement and tender an unconditional public apology to the Indigenous communities of Meghalaya.
HYC also urged the RSS and the BJP leadership to take serious note of the statement and restrain their leaders from making inflammatory remarks that undermine the unity and peaceful coexistence of indigenous communities in the State.
“Meghalaya is not a laboratory for communal experiments and political theatrics. Any attempt to divide our people on religious lines will be met with full force of the HYC and the community as a whole,” it warned.
