DIMAPUR, MARCH 31 (MExN): BJP Nagaland has issued a clarification on the open resignation letter of former chairman of BJP Political Affairs Committee (PAC) Dr Kakheto Zhimomi wherein he cited that NDA government’s failure to fulfill its promises, increase of intolerance in the country after it came to power, RSS influence and imposition of its ideology on the party were some reasons for his resignation.
The BJP Nagaland, in “rectification of certain aspects of the resignation letter, sought to clarify on the shortcomings noticed” through its general secretary, Jaangsillung Gonmei on Thursday.
In the first, BJP Nagaland said the thumping landslide victory of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi electoral victory raised the expectations of the public manifold. People expected miracle-like quick solutions on the lines of Gujarat’s development just like he took the country by storm during the elections. Gujarat’s development did not take place in a term just like Rome was not built in a day. At the national level, the NDA has a bigger challenge to undo and rectify the system of decades of mis-governance.
As such, dismissing the promises of BJP as mere rhetoric is uncalled for, it stated.
The BJP Nagaland also expressed shock and out rightly rejected of being accused that Hindu rituals are performed before party meetings. In order to set record straight, it claimed that till now, it has been the practice of the BJP Nagaland to commence its meetings and events with a prayer by any party member present or pastors and church leaders.
“If Dr Kakheto has seen pictures and idols of other gods in the vicinity of the party office anywhere; it does not imply that everyone is worshipping that idol,” the press statement read while asserting that BJP believes in secularism which means every citizen is free to practice any faith and worship any gods of personal choice.
“…Therefore, we let our party colleagues worship their gods as we worship ours. So, if we say our prayers here in our state meetings along with our other non Christian colleagues, we sit through the religious rituals of other state’s party men before party meetings in their areas, out of our Christian respect and not for reasons of worshipping their gods,” it substantiated.
On the RSS front, the BJP Nagaland said it is basically a nationalistic patriotic movement originating from the national freedom movement that is singly focused on nation building. “Just because majority of its members consist of Hindus and therefore has gained a Hindu fervor, do not mean its purpose has been compromised. Its membership is not religion based and not restricted to Hindus or a condition for membership,” it argued.
The BJP Nagaland also maintained that the appointment of BJP presidents at various levels are not a deviation from the party’s constitution but a feature of a special provision of waiving the usual constitutional electoral process and eligibility criteria as and when applicable.
