SHILLONG: Senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna remained discreet about the recent cow vigilantism in several states, including Rajasthan where a person was hacked to death for allegedly smuggling cows, and whether it would be extended to the northeastern states.
The BJP central leader, who was in the city on Friday to help the State leadership prepare the ground for the 2018 elections, said when asked about beef ban in the North east, “It depends on the state as it (BJP) has to respect the sentiments of the public at large.”
When asked about the vigilantism in Rajasthan and subsequent death of a poor Muslim man, Khanna instantly shifted the blame on the state government.
“Nobody has any right to take law in his hand. There is the law made by some of the states and the maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the state as it should implement the law,” he said.
Again, when asked on whether the probe into cow vigilantism is making any headway he said, “If there is any violation of law, the government will probe it.”
Election 2018
State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said Khanna’s visit would elevate the spirits of the BJP in Congress-ruled Meghalaya. “We are cut off from various Central schemes as we do not have our legislators,” he said while speaking at a programme at Bharat Scouts and Guides on Friday.
Bashai Khyriem, state vice president, heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that he is a strong, decisive man who is available to the mass.
He added that after BJP came to power, the government has not faced a single corruption charge.
Defending Modi’s 54 trips to foreign countries as PM, Khyriem said, “Touring the world so that India will not be ignored. He visited countries with a significant Indian diaspora.”
Later, in an interaction with the party functionaries, Khanna maintained that in order to gain ground, “Take the policies (of the Central Government) to the grassroots.”
Alliance
When asked whether the party will go for post-poll or pre-poll alliance, Khanna said it is a matter of time.
On the party’s preparedness for the 2018 battle, Khanna said, “Our party is a cadre-based party and the basic unit of the party is booth. We are going to strengthen the booth and if the booth is strong, we will win the election.”
In this connection, he said there will be booth-level conferences. “I am sure that the party will win election and form the government.”
Grant of citizenship rights to migrant Hindus
On the readiness of the Centre to grant citizenship to migrant Bangladeshi Hindus that raised a hue and cry in the North East, Khanna said, “There is a procedure in the Citizenship Act that will be followed and if anybody comes under the domain of the provision, they can get the citizenship.”
“Whatever law will permit us, we will do it, we can’t do anything against law,” he added.
