SHILLONG : Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) president Roykupar Synrem on Thursday condemned remarks made by the state BJP Youth Wing president and demanded that law enforcement agencies take action against him under relevant provisions of the law.
Synrem said the statement made by the BJP youth leader was inappropriate for someone holding a responsible position and urged him to make statements in a more responsible manner.
“We have already made a statement regarding that statement by a particular person from the BJP which does not befit a person like him. He is an educated person. He should have made his statement in a responsible manner,” Synrem said.
Strongly objecting to the remarks, the HYC president asserted that the right to protest is guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
“In a democracy, everyone has every right to protest. The Constitution of India has given us that right to protest, the right to assemble, and the right to freedom of speech and expression. Just because we protest, it does not mean that we are against the government,” he said.
Synrem further said that expressing dissent should not be equated with anti-national activities and warned against attempts to intimidate those participating in protests.
“You cannot intimidate us because we show dissent. In democracy we have every right to show dissent. It does not mean that you treat us as adversaries, to treat us as terrorists or militants,” he said.
“We condemn in the highest possible terms this particular person,” he added.
The HYC president said the council has also urged the state BJP leadership to initiate action against its youth wing leader over the remarks.
“We have demanded from the state BJP that action should be taken against such a person,” Synrem stated.
He also called upon the state law enforcement agencies to examine whether any provision of law applies to the remarks and whether action can be initiated under a specific section.
“Also to the law enforcement agency in the state, that they have to see if there is any law to book him under a specific section of law,” he said.