SHILLONG, July 23: Meghalaya BJP appears to be shielding its youth wing chief Mewaker Lyngdoh Pakma over his controversial “shoot protesters” remark by claiming his account was hacked. Yet the party is yet to file an FIR, raising suspicion that it may be under pressure to protect its youth leader even as the Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) on Thursday demanded firm action against him.
Speaking to media persons here, HYC President Roy Kupar Synrem said the organisation has already formally asked the State BJP to take action against Pakma. “We have also asked enforcement agencies to see if there is any law under which the concerned person can be booked,” he said.
Condemning the alleged statement, Synrem stressed that every citizen in a democracy has the right to protest as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Just because we protested, it does not mean we are against the government,” he said, making it clear that people cannot be intimidated merely because they dissent.
The controversy erupted after a post reportedly shared from Pakma’s official Facebook and Instagram handles carried the words “Shoot them! Tear gas ain’t enough!” along with the hashtag #UAPA_Sedition, in apparent reference to student protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The remarks triggered widespread condemnation across the state.
Instead of distancing itself firmly, the BJP chose to stand by its leader.
Party spokesperson Arnab Das on Wednesday claimed the youth wing president’s account was hacked and misused, adding that the “hackers were kind enough” to delete the post once it drew public criticism.
Das said the party does not endorse the circulating statements and that Pakma has “categorically denied” making them.
However, more than two days after the post first surfaced and after the party itself floated the hacking theory, no FIR has been registered either by the BJP or by Pakma.
In earlier instances when political accounts in the state were allegedly compromised, parties have routinely approached the police to place the claim on record. The absence of any such complaint this time has only strengthened the perception that the hacking explanation is being used as a convenient shield.
