State BJP unit has rejected the charge by NBCC that it was a communal party on the ground that if it was so then the ECI would not have recognised the party.
Stating this, the BJP unit media cell also pointed out that the secular character of the Constitution of India cannot be changed by any political party despite BJP currently enjoying absolute majority in parliament.
Drawing attention on the recent letter of appeal from NBCC to presidents of all political parties in Nagaland not to compromise “our religion” for the sake of development and political gain, BJP party said it appeared that religious polarisation seemed to be the strategy of some people in Nagaland during elections.
BJP was, however, quick to clarify that it did not blame NBCC, but alleged that there were few leaders at its helm who were trying to confuse the Nagas.
BJP reminded that earlier the convener of NBCC’s Clean Election Campaign (CEC) had categorically stated that, as a responsible organisation, NBCC was not in support or against any political party. Therefore, BJP asked then why was it that some leaders were using the NBCC platform now to openly campaign against it (BJP)? By making the appeal, BJP asked has not NBCC contravened the CEC guidelines laid down?
“Have these leaders given any thought that exhorting one’s followers not to vote for a particular party in an election might prove harmful and create social discord? How can the clergy preach people to be truthful, righteous and keep the faith and, at the same time, make it clear that in their judgment or opinion party A is righteous/better than party B?” BJP asked.
With less than three weeks left for the Assembly election, the sudden and oblique declaration that BJP, which was a partner in the NPF-led DAN government, was a communal party was perplexing, it added.
BJP rather advised NBCC to encourage people to come out and exercise their franchise rather than recommend or influence which party to vote for or which party to reject. Confusing the public by trying to interfere in voters’ choice was unlawful, it pointed out.
The media cell reiterated that almost all BJP leaders in Nagaland are Christians and that there should not be an iota of doubt in people’s mind that their faith will ever be compromised.
Stressing that BJP Nagaland would work solely for the welfare and uplift of the people and usher in a corruption-free government, BJP vowed to never interfere in issues pertaining to religious practices and culture of the State.
Further BJP said it was quite appalled to see social media being flooded with “false and fake propaganda, especially in a Christian State like ours”. It added that lies, rumours and deceit had ousted truth from “our hearts and most of us are like the proverbial ‘pot calling the kettle black’”.
Alleging that every achievement of the Central government was downplayed outright while any error or omission blown out of proportion, BJP said, while everyone had the right to criticise the party, they should be based on facts and not on pre-conceived notions.
BJP declared that, as a mature and responsible political party, it held development and corruption-free governance as top priorities and that these two are what Nagaland needed the most at this “critical juncture”. The party’s only “vested interest” in the State was development without corruption and stability with good Governance, the statement underlined.
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