Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 18
The BJP defended the use of religious phrases election campaign programmes maintaining that there was no wrong in it. The party’s National spokesperson and in-charge of Nagaland, Nalin Kohli told a press conference in Dimapur, on February 18, that there should be no “misunderstanding” as it is a common practice in Nagaland, where invoking God’s blessings precedes any event.
The BJP’s defense coincided with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) condemning the use of Christian religious phrases in political campaigns.
Kohli maintained that it was not a vote-seeking tactic but rather a way of remembering God. “In fact I am happy to see everyone joining in when we say, ‘Praise the lord, hallelujah,’ which is to start or end a programme. There is no vote being asked on that…” he said. He held that the misunderstanding or the controversy was the handiwork of “some misguided political people to create confusion.”
BJP State Media Cell Convenor, Sapralu, reiterated Kohli’s defense stating that it was not a ploy to gain political mileage. According to her, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla, as a Christian by faith, used the phrase. She held that it was within his liberty “to call on the name of God in whatever political events or any other event” he attends. “I want to place it on record, that the members of BJP Nagaland, we are also as much Christians as any other member of any political party,” she said.
Kohli, meanwhile, informed that starting Monday (February 20), top leaders of the BJP from Delhi will be campaigning across Nagaland. The campaigners will include Cabinet Ministers led by Home Minister Amit Shah and capped off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi touching down just before the campaign window draws to a close. He added that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will join Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to campaign for both BJP and NDPP candidates.
