Nongpoh, September 16: Amid reports circulating in various media outlets that as many as eight UDP MLAs are planning to join the BJP, reportedly citing the need for the BJP-led government to fulfil various long-pending demands of the state, a senior BJP leader from Ri Bhoi, Blessedson Dkhar, who served as the General Secretary of the BJP in Ri Bhoi, announced his resignation from the party on Wednesday.
Dkhar submitted his resignation letter to the President of the BJP Ri Bhoi District.
Speaking to the media, Dkhar said he decided to resign from the BJP and step down from his position as a party leader because he could not accept the ideology and functioning of the BJP.
“Personally, I cannot accept the ideology of the BJP. Having been associated with the BJP, I understand its functioning very well. The BJP has the RSS, which I cannot accept,” Dkhar said.
He added that he had not previously been aware of the existence of the RSS, saying that instead of referring to it as the RSS, it was sometimes described as a group or organisation of village elders. He said that as a Christian, he could not accept the functioning of the RSS.
Dkhar said the decision to resign from the BJP was entirely his own and that he would not say anything further to the people. However, he said the people, being mature and educated, could judge for themselves what the BJP stands for.
He also expressed surprise over reports that some MLAs were seeking to join the BJP while using the state’s long-standing demands as a reason, including the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), recognition of the Khasi language, the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) and other issues.
“These demands already exist and have been raised by the people of the state. Why is it necessary to join the BJP in order to fulfil these demands?” he questioned.
Dkhar further said that the government should not act in a biased manner and should listen to the voice of the people.
He also revealed that BJP leaders had removed him from the party’s WhatsApp group because he used to share videos concerning issues affecting the indigenous people, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU)’s agitations demanding that such issues be addressed by the Central Government, as well as statements made by the Voice of the People Party (VPP) on issues concerning the indigenous population.
He questioned why, instead of discussing how to fulfil demands concerning the indigenous people, the party leadership chose to remove him from the WhatsApp group.
Therefore, Dkhar made it clear that from now onwards, he is no longer a member or leader of the BJP.
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He also stated that national parties have traditionally come to the state and weakened regional parties, adding that he did not agree with the need to join the BJP in the name of pursuing issues concerning the indigenous population.
He said that if elected representatives genuinely wanted to serve the people of the state, they could do so through regional parties, while the people have the constitutional right to raise their demands before the Central Government.
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“There is no need to join the BJP with the belief that these demands will be fulfilled,” he added.
Dkhar further criticised the continued discussion of issues concerning the indigenous population that have been raised for several decades.
“If the BJP is truly a party that serves the people, it should listen to the voice of the people. It should not be necessary for even MLAs to join the BJP before these demands are fulfilled,” he added.
