SHILLONG: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, has asked Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to refrain from meddling in political matters of Meghalaya.
Basaiawmoit issued this statement in response to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s comments linking a “particular religion” (believed to be Christians) in Meghalaya to the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Basaiawmoit strongly condemned the Assam CM’s remarks, labeling him a “habitual loose talker” and asserting that he should focus on issues within Assam rather than interfering in Meghalaya’s affairs.
“He has no right whatsoever to interfere in the affairs of the state of Meghalaya as far as the recently concluded parliamentary election is concerned,” Basaiawmoit stated.
Basaiawmoit said, “In a democratic country like India, the people of Meghalaya have the right to choose or elect any person as long as he is a citizen of India and qualified for the candidature. The people of Meghalaya are not so naive, not to know about the aims, objectives, agendas, and manifesto of political parties that are taking part in this election.”
Basaiawmoit also highlighted that churches in Meghalaya have historically stayed out of electoral politics.
He explained that the community tends to support parties or candidates that uphold the Constitution of India, respect its provisions, believe in secularism, and protect minority interests.
“Therefore, you cannot expect that as Christians, I will vote or elect a person who belongs to a party that stands against the Constitution of India, that is not secular, and which is also a threat to the minority in the country.”
The VPP chief further criticized the Assam chief minister’s statement as “unfounded, baseless, and communal in nature,” accusing him of attempting to mislead people and create communal disharmony.
Basaiawmoit said that Sarma’s remarks have brought shame to the people of Assam and negatively impacted the sentiments of Meghalaya’s citizens.
“It was unbecoming on the part of the Assam chief minister to pass such remarks against another state in the country,” Basaiawmoit asserted.
Notably, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, recently, while interacting with the media in Guwahati, blamed groups and people of a “particular religion” (believed to be Christians) for the electoral losses incurred by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the Northeast states of Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
“Regarding results in Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya my specific observation is that leaders from a particular religion – who usually do not get into politics – decided to fight the NDA,” said Assam CM and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 04 after results for the Lok Sabha elections were declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
He added: “That religion has tremendous followers in those states. No one can fight with a religion, it’s political. Usually, they don’t interfere in politics, but this time they did.”
Notably, while Nagaland and Meghalaya are Christian-majority states, Christianity is the second most followed religion in Manipur.
Recently, Christian groups across the Northeast have voiced dissatisfaction over BJP-backed groups targeting Christian institutions.
In the two Lok Sabha seats of Tura and Shillong in Meghalaya, the BJP had supported the candidates fielded by NDA constituent – National People’s Party (NPP).