Shillong, Sept 24: The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) has slammed the eight UDP MLAs for joining the BJP and termed their act as a betrayal of the mandate given by the people.
The move exposes their hunger for power and self-interest over commitment to good governance and public welfare, said the Forum secretary Rev Edwin Kharkongor in a statement.
There is no issue when individuals join a political party on their own, but the problem arises when elected representatives switch sides, he said.
The Forum also accused the BJP of promoting majoritarianism and remaining silent on key issues including the ethnic violence in Manipur and attacks on Christians and minorities by right-wing groups.
Despite the welfare schemes, the BJP pushes a “One Nation, One Language, One Religion” agenda that threatens indigenous and minority identities, it said.
Accusing BJP of practising domination politics, the Forum said even with just two seats, it has influenced governance, and the latest defections have given it a “false and fake sense of legitimacy”.
It said, now it is up to the voters of those constituencies to express their outrage and reject such opportunism.
