SHILLONG, Feb 23: In a frontal attack on the BJP which is seeking to make greater inroads in Christian-dominated Meghalaya, the Congress on Thursday said the former poses a threat to the Christians and the ST identity of people of Meghalaya.
The Congress pointed out that the BJP is an alliance partner of the NPP-led MDA government having only two MLAs, yet the party behaves like they own Meghalaya.
“You will notice more BJP posters and hoardings in the streets than those of their alliance partners. Wherever they go the BJP gobbles up the regional parties as has been seen in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. They do not believe in the regional aspirations of the people but wants to bring everyone under one umbrella of language, faith, food, dress and even colour,” Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said here on Thursday.
Pointing out that recently Assam-based Janajati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (an organisation backed by RSS) has demanded the removal of the Scheduled Tribe status of converted Christians, Shama said, “This is against the spirit of respecting the indigenous ethnic origin of the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast, especially the Christian community in Meghalaya and Nagaland.”
“It also demonstrates the compelling need of BJP to repeatedly invoke their anti-Christian mentality. Will the BJP let us know if they plan to implement this if they come to power in Meghalaya?” she asked.
Questioning the BJP if they will pass the anti-conversion bill that was passed in Karnataka in 2022, Shama said, “The BJP’s demand for a Uniform Civil Code throughout the country shows its majoritarian mindset and poses a threat to the unique cultural identity of the tribes of Meghalaya and other Northeastern states.”
“What is their stand with respect to Meghalaya and the other Northeastern states that have their own unique customary laws?” she said, further questioning: “What protection and guarantee will BJP give to Meghalaya and other Christian states of the Northeast on the increasing attacks on churches in various parts of India and that was also witnessed in Assam recently?”
Stating that innocents are lynched on allegations of eating beef and transporting cattle which has become common in the country since the BJP came to power, the Congress spokesperson asked, “What is the stand of BJP on these matters when it comes to Meghalaya? They are seen to have a different stand in Meghalaya and other Christian states like Mizoram and Nagaland than when they have in the rest of the country.”
“Religious profiling of Christians in neighbouring Assam is a dangerous precedence. What guarantee is there that it will not happen in Meghalaya and other Christian states?” she asked again.
“The Congress has always believed in unity in diversity. We believe that our diversity is our greatest strength. We respect the uniqueness of every state in the country. Congress believes in inclusive politics. We respect the diversity of Meghalaya as well as the entire Northeast with its indigenous and ethnic rights,” she said.
