‘Close down BJP offices if RSS, VHP do not stop ‘religious fanatic policies’

EMN Dimapur, April 19 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Khasi rebel group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Counci (HNLC) has called a 12-hour total shutdown in Meghalaya in protest against the ‘Indian political leadership’ and atrocities perpetrated by Sangh Parivar on minorities, in the entire Hynñiewtrep (Khasi-Jaintia Hills) on April 22 commencing from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. “If the BJP, RSS, VHP do not stop their religious fanatic policies then the BJP should close down all its party offices in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and members of the BJP, candidates contesting elections shall bear the wrath of the HNLC.” The HNLC which was declared banned outfit by the Centre, said the Government of India has again decided to extend the ban on the HNLC but failed to ban the RSS, VHP, and organisations of the Sangh Parivar. HNLC said it had expressed its willingness to come under a unilateral ceasefire with the government but the Government of India and Government of Meghalaya have failed to appoint an interlocutor. “It seems that peace is not an option anymore.” Saiñkupar Nongtraw, publicity secretary,HNLC in a statement issued today pointed out that the recent plan on ban of cow slaughter by the BJP will snatch away employment opportunities from thousands of families in the Hynñiewtrep. “ Instead of that it should impose a ban on the sale of liquor and tobacco. Cow meat is a source of food but alcohol and tobacco does not have any benefits.” The HNLC said the BJP, RSS, VHP and other allied organisations are using the culture and history of India to promote the concept of a Hindu nation and their purpose is to consolidate Hinduism around a specific religious ethos selectively chosen by political leaders. “The BJP will like to re-write the constitution for establishing a strong Hindustate. The minorities are in a state of dilemma, whether to accept humility in the form of Indian nationalism (based on secular ideas) or to preserve their identity. They have to rationalise whether by accepting the secular nationalism they will be given equal status like Hindus or will they remain aliens as they are.” Alleging that the Hindus want to absorb the Christians and Muslims into Hinduism through Indian nationalism and it still persists, HNLC said the recent statement of vice president of All India Hindu Mahasabha, Sadhvi Deva Thakur, which had mentioned that Muslims and Christians will have to be forced to undergo sterilisation so that they can't increase their numbers, is a matter of great concern for the minorities. “This world view of Indian Christians, who much like Muslims, are perceived as “outsiders” or “foreigners” continues to be the guiding political narrative of the entire Sangh Parivar. A report compiled in 2011 shows there have been 172 incidents across the country in which Christians have been attacked.” “Karnataka, under BJP rule back then, topped the list with 47 incidents followed by Odisha, which in 2008 had witnessed anti-Christian violence led by Sangh Parivar groups, witnessed 25 incidents and coming in at third position was another BJP ruled state of Madhya Pradesh with 15 incidents. BJP legislators even went to the extent of stating that “People must remain aware and watchful about the spread of these seeds of Christianity,” and that “Christianity must be weeded out of India". The HNLC said the peace rally held in Shillong on April 18, 2015, whereby thousands of Catholics marched through the city streets organised to express solidarity with Christians who were being “targeted” in certain parts of the country, was enough to prove that the oppression on minorities has reached its peak. “Before the Lok Sabha election, BJP sang the development tune, but after coming to power it was indulging in reconversion. The issue of Bangladeshi migrants has been one of the important policy planks of the BJP and VHP . They make a distinction between Hindu and Muslim migrants. They call Hindus as "refugees" while the Muslims as infiltrators, though in fact most of them are economic refugees.” According to HNLC, “The BJP also has planned to invite all foreigner Hindus back to India as the "homecoming". This proved beyond doubt that the BJP supports Hindu foreigners infiltration in India. The crackdown on infiltrators by the meghalaya district administrations and the police are just like fashion shows. Only Muslim migrants labourers are targeted, whereas the Hindu migrants who exploit the state economically with vast majority in the entire state including the refugee colony umpling enjoy their status and go unnoticed . The Indo Bangla treaty of 1971 has expired since 1997 It had a timeframe of 25 years but till date it has gone unnoticed by the Government of Meghalaya and Government of India. According to the treaty all those who had entered India upto March 25,1971would be allowed to remain in this country while the rest were to return to Bangladesh.” The HNLC urged the concerned NGOs and pressure groups to understand that its main threat comes from the hidden Hindu migrants, who have infiltrated and gained the status of citizens. These people support the Hindutva agenda and they want the BJP and the Sangh Parivar to rule the entire north eastern states, it added. Regarding the visit of BJP President Amit Shah into the state, the HNLC informed the public that by appointing Amit Shah as its chief, the BJP has lowered the minimum moral qualification required for leaders to head major political parties in the country. It recalled Shah as a leader who faced serious criminal charges including murder, extortion and kidnapping was anointed as chief of a national political party. It is not hidden from anyone that Shah is currently out on bail and he faces serious charges of having masterminded the fake encounters in Gujarat, the HNLC statement said. Citing the first major speech in the parliament of Prime Minister, HNLC said, Narendra Modi had stressed on deciding cases of MPs facing criminal charges within a year to free this important institution of democracy from criminals. “Now by appointing an individual who is facing trial in cases of murder, conspiracy, extortion, kidnapping, destruction of evidence and wrongful confinement, as party president –are Modi and the BJP indicating that office-bearers of political parties enjoy immunity from criminalisation of politics? It cannot be forgotten that Shah was not allowed to enter Gujarat for almost two years on court orders and was finally given bail in the fake encounter cases on the condition that he will not enter the state to tamper with evidence.” “When an individual is facing such serious criminal charges, would it not have been appropriate for the main political party of the country to have waited for the outcome of the case against him before anointing him and showcasing the event as a big victory ?” it asked. “First of all the BJP should be banned as an unlawful organisation.” “The track record of Shah as minister of state for home in Gujarat has been extremely dubious to say the least. It was during his tenure that the Supreme Court transferred all major cases of 2002 riots out of Gujarat, agreeing with the apprehensions expressed by the riots victims that fair investigation of cases was not possible under this government,” HNLC said.