Ahead of BJP President Amit Shah's maiden visit to Meghalaya on Wednesday, a banned armed group – Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) – has called a 12-hour bandh to protest alleged atrocities on minorities including Christians by the Sangh Parivar. The group also alleged that the BJP’s proposed ban on cow slaughter would render jobless thousands of tribal people apart from hurting their religious sentiments. “Cow meat is a source of food, but alcohol and tobacco do not have any benefits. The BJP, RSS, VHP and other allied organizations, without any shadow of doubts are using the culture and history of India to promote the concept of a Hindu nation and their purpose is to consolidate Hinduism around a specific religious ethos selectively chosen by political leaders,” HNLC, in a statement issued to the media in Shillong, said. [related-post] Shah, who had last week visited Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur, is arriving on a day-long trip to Shillong on Wednesday. He will address party workers, meet representatives of various church bodies and civil society groups, apart from meeting leaders of some regional political parties. With protests against the BJP’s proposed ban on beef gathering momentum in the hill state, the Meghalaya BJP unit has also spoken against the proposed ban. “Consumption of beef is a major food habit of the tribal communities in Meghalaya. Moreover, beef is a state subject. It should not be stopped,” said BJP state president Khlur Singh Lyngdoh. On the issue of alleged atrocities on minorities and attack on churches, Lyngdoh said, “The party has strongly condemned the atrocities that have taken place against different Christian communities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also condemned such shameful acts. The central government has not taken this lightly and has ordered inquiries into the matter.” Another group called Thma U Rangli Juki on the other hand has appealed to the people in general and religious leaders in particular not to attend any meeting called during the BJP president’s visit. “Attacking people’s freedom of culture, religion and faith through beef ban, vandalising churches and mosques and their Ghar Wapasi campaign should be protested," a statement issued by TUR said. Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty has appealed to the groups to withdraw the bandh and boycott of Amit Shah’s meetings in Shillong tomorrow. “The administration has been requested to make adequate security arrangements,” he said.
