SHILLONG: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee vice president AL Hek, who attended an ABVP event on Sunday, said revamping the party is imperative to keep the flag flying in the State.
The Congress leader’s presence at the ABVP event raised a few eyebrows on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of ‘Reward for the talented’, a programme of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Shillong unit, here on Sunday, he said, “We need to revamp the party, which depends on its leaders, otherwise it will be in a shambles.”
Replying to a query as to whether the Congress was moving in the right direction taking into account the suspension of Congress leader P.N Syiem, the former Cabinet minister said, “Presently, no. The party is not moving in a healthy direction. There should be checks and balances.”
When asked about his participation in an ABVP event, Hek downplayed it saying there was nothing political about it, but admitted that BJP leaders had asked him to rejoin the saffron brigade. Hek left BJP in 2009 to join the Congress.
“Some leaders of the BJP have approached me. I was born in the BJP and if I have to go back I don’t need anybody’s permission. I don’t have to seek permission from my wife to go to my parents’ house,” he said.
Asked why he was approached by BJP, Hek said, “BJP has seen that I have been working hard and that I am approachable. Even if the party does not take me back it is not a huge issue. It is a democracy, where there is no hundred per cent consensus.”
When asked whether he would be in the Congress in the 2018 elections, Hek said he has no inclination of joining other parties but was quick to add, “But nobody knows what will happen in the near future.”
‘Every student a nationalist’
Addressing the gathering at the event, ABVP national secretary Srihari Borikar said the organisation inculcates patriotism and nationalism among students and youths and that every student is a nationalist. “There should be nationalism instilled in every student and they should know about some of the freedom fighters.”
Criticising some organisations “that mobilise students to instigate violence”, he said, “Some organisations believe in ‘nuisance power’ whereas ABVP believes in ‘students’ power’. Power is both constructive and destructive.”
On political awareness among youths, he said, “Political awareness is the need of the hour as we see many students fight for better education and social rights.”
Hek and Borikar attended the appreciation programme for participants who took part in the drawing, debate and varied competitions organised by ABVP.
Hek lauded ABVP’s efforts for providing students a platform to showcase their talent.
