Why BJP-NDPP is silent on JDSSM demand for ‘delisting’ of tribal Christians: Congress

February 10, 2023 97 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 10

The Indian National Congress continued with its media blitz hitting out the BJP-NDPP combine as the clock ticks closer to the February 27 Nagaland Assembly polls.

Sujata Paul, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Media Coordinator hit out at the BJP-NDPP coalition in Nagaland and the BJP in Assam at what she held was silence in the backdrop of “attack on tribal Christians” in the north-east.

Paul’s remark coincided with the Guwahati-based Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (JDSSM) demanding the “delisting” of tribal Christians or revoking the Constitutional rights bestowed on Scheduled Tribe communities, who have converted to other faiths other than Hinduism. “They are also demanding the Centre and State governments to amend Article 342A of the Constitution of India,” she said.

She said that the JDSSM demand was a manifestation of the “BJP’s real intentions” in the north-east. According to her, it was obvious that the JDSSM was also targeting Assam’s neighbouring states like Nagaland and Meghalaya, where tribal Christians are dominant. “The BJP must answer why no action is being taken against JDSSM when from Guwahati, they are attacking tribal (Christians) and the people of Nagaland can see the dubious, double face of the BJP refusing to speak up inspite of having got 12 seats in the last Assembly,” she said.

She also hit out at the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s alleged silence on the demand. While stating, “Not only are they ready with a plan to take away the special status of Nagaland granted to it under Article 371 (A),” she added that Sarma has remained silent, let alone condemn it.

Along with the BJP’s intention to implement the Uniform Civil Code, she said, “If that were to happen as BJP has been vociferous about their intention to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the India, we have questions for the BJP. How will you bring in UCC when Nagaland has special status under article 371 (A) or do you not consider Naga tribes and their identity valuable?”

When pointed out that minority Christians in Congress-ruled states like Chhattisgarh have also come under attack, she said that the RSS-BJP was behind such acts and it was obvious why. “You can also understand that Chhattisgarh will be going to elections next year… It has been their agenda to divide the people. In every state where they have not been existing they have ensured that they polarize the votes or where they have come into power or they think that they have a chance to come into power, they have done it.”

On the other hand, she claimed that unlike in BJP-ruled states, the Congress government in Chhattisgarh is ensuring that stern action is taken against the perpetrators instead of being defensive.

She added, “But has Himanta in Assam or Neiphiu Rio or BJP (Nagaland) President or the Deputy Chief Minister said anything? Do they want the rights of Christians to be taken away?”

Meanwhile, in Nagaland, she said that the BJP is plotting to weaken and wipe out the NDPP by getting the BJP’s “B and C teams (political parties) with no standing, appearing on the election scene.”