SHILLONG: Former Meghalaya minister and MLA Lahkmen Rymbui has attributed the recent electoral setbacks of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Northeast to the controversial Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act 2024, which has been criticized by Christians as a curb on religious freedom.
Meghalaya MLA Lahkmen Rymbui highlighted that the contentious law, which has sparked debates even in the Nagaland Assembly, played a significant role in dissuading voters from supporting the NDA coalition in the polls.
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He urged Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to prioritize unity in governance, as advised by the Prime Minister.
“Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act 2024 which Christians’ terms as prevention of religious freedom kept most of them away from NDA,” the former Meghalaya minister said.
However, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the NDA’s losses in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Manipur to opposition from a “particular religion”.
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He noted that this “particular religion”, which traditionally refrains from political interference, openly campaigned against the NDA in these states, including Assam.
The BJP faced setbacks in the Northeast, losing two seats in Manipur, where ethnic tensions have long simmered.
The BJP and its ally, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), suffered significant defeats, with the Congress emerging victorious in both parliamentary seats.
In Meghalaya, the newly formed Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) unseated Congress MP Vincent Pala, while in Tura, Congress candidate Saleng Sangma defeated former union minister and NDA candidate Agatha Sangma of the NPP.
Meanwhile, Nagaland witnessed a resurgence of the Congress party, with S Supongmeren Jamir securing the lone seat defeating the NDA candidate.
The Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act 2024, enacted in February, aims to eliminate non-scientific healing practices through penalties and imprisonment.