SHILLONG: The state leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself from its member Khroo Lamsalanki Pariat who was arrested along with an international faculty member of Art of Living for allegedly aligning with HNLC, a banned militant outfit.
But the Congress has accused the party of using the outfit’s services for the upcoming elections and said it was a matter of concern.
The state BJP on Wednesday said there was no relationship between the saffron party and Pariat, who is also a member of Art of Living, from Jowai.
The other person who was arrested on Monday is Samir Jolly from Noida. The duo was arrested from Dawki when they were heading to Sylhet in Bangladesh to meet top members of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Tuesday.
But the BJP state leadership has denied having any knowledge about Pariat’s association with Art of Living.
“There is no relationship between BJP and Art of Living,” state leader David Kharsati told reporters here on Wednesday.
On Pariat’s party membership, another BJP leader, Bashai Khongwir, said, “He is just an executive member in the district.”
Expressing shock at his arrest, Khongwir said it was Pariat’s personal choice and personal activity and it has nothing to do with the party.
“Let the law takes its own course. If he is found to be guilty, he will be sacked from the party,” he added when asked about action against Pariat.
The hobnobbing between Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of Art of Living, and top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is well-known. Modi had also attended Sri Sri’s much controversial World Culture Festival last year.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Ronnie V Lyngdoh said the incident only showed the saffron party’s double standards. “BJP can stoop to any level and they can even use anti-national elements to win elections,” he said, adding, “Nobody can initiate peace talks. How can they bypass state government? In a federal structure, the state government should be taken into confidence before anyone initiates talks.”
Stating that the saffron party has nexus with the rebel outfit, the Congress minister said it was BJP’s idea to use the services of HNLC and “it is a matter of concern that the party has even bypassed the government”.
