DIMAPUR: Union minister of state for minority affairs John Barla on Wednesday claimed that the people of Nagaland have "accepted" the BJP, CM Neiphiu Rio and deputy CM Y Patton.
The presence of a large number of people at the election campaign meetings, which saw Patton and BJP national spokesperson and in charge of Nagaland Nalin Kohli canvassing for the party candidates in three constituencies of Seyochung Sititmi, Noklak and Tuensang Sadar-I on Wednesday, is proof of that.
"We have undertaken several development works in Nagaland and many more are in the pipeline," he said.
Barla dismissed reports of BJP being anti-Christian as rumours spread by opposition parties. "We have to be united. Without unity, there can be no development," he said.
BJP spokesperson Kohli clarified that there is no confusion about the BJP-NDPP alliance in the state, saying "we are committed to be in alliance".
He dismissed "rumours" about the NDPP sponsoring some candidates against the BJP in certain constituencies in the state.
Kohli said they were quite happy with the overwhelming response from people at the public meetings held to spread the message of peace and development in the three constituencies. He said several central BJP leaders will visit Nagaland in the days to come for campaigning, and that they are also looking for opportunities to campaign together with CM Rio who is from the NDPP.
Kohli said Barla, who was a pastor earning Rs 5,000 a month and is a devout Christian, was given a ticket to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by the BJP and made a minister in the Union government.
On the Congress' claim that the RSS-backed Janajati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (JDSSM) is demanding delisting of tribal Christians from the ST list, he said the BJP has no knowledge about any such organisation and also has nothing to do with it. "We go to the people with a development agenda while the Congress does press conferences sitting in rooms," he said.
Deputy CM Patton said there is no question of harassing Christians across the country, calling it propaganda and rumour-mongering by the opposition parties.
Start a Conversation
Post comment