BJP suspends Muslim woman leader for organising prayer meet in Assam for Rohingya victims
A Muslim member of the BJP in Assam has been suspended and served a show-cause notice by her party for allegedly organising a prayer meet for the Rohingya people in Myanmar.
Published: 17th September 2017 05:17 PM | Last Updated: 18th September 2017 09:37 AM | A+A A-
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar. (Photo | AP)
GUWAHATI: A Muslim member of the BJP in Assam has been suspended and served a show-cause notice by her party for allegedly organising a “prayer meet” for the Rohingya people in Myanmar.
A notice sent by WhatsApp to Bharatiya Janata Mazdoor Morcha chief executive member Benazir Arfan alleged that she had used the BJP’s social media forum to make an appeal to people to attend a demonstration being organised by another organisation. The notice said the Benazir Afra had not discussed the issue within the party.
Arfan, who was the BJP’s Triple Talaq mascot in the state, defended her action, stating that it was a prayer meet and not a demonstration.
“The event was organised by an NGO, United Minority People’s Forum, to pray for the Rohingya Muslims who have lost their lives in Myanmar. But the BJP state leadership viewed it as an attempt to lobby for asylum for fleeing Rohingya Muslims in India,” Benazir Arfan told New Indian Express.
She alleged that the BJP had been vindictive towards her all along and the action against her was taken a day ahead of the event on September 16.
Arfan had joined the BJP in 2012. She unsuccessfully contested last year’s Assam elections from Jania.
“I sincerely served the BJP all these years. Is this how they pay back?” a livid Arfan asked. She alleged that the male-dominated BJP state leadership denied delegating responsibilities to deserving women workers.
“The BJP state president Ranjit Das is at the heart of the problem. Media reports suggest his involvement in corruption but he is not accountable to any. Hindus and Muslims in Assam shared a cordial relationship but it has been strained under the present state BJP leadership,” she alleged.
Arfan has already sent her reply to the show-cause notice to the BJP leadership. She said she would not go back to the party even if the suspension was revoked.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced several schemes and programmes for women’s empowerment. I want to ask him what action he will take against the BJP state leadership for this injustice done to me,” Arfan added.
