NPP leader along with others join Cong

SHILLONG, FEB 9: A leader of the National People’s Party from East Khasi Hills District along with others on Friday quit the party and joined the ruling Congress citing due to the NPP’s close links with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Harkin Warjri, a former vice president of the NPP East Khasi Hills, was welcomed by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president James Lyngdoh at a meeting held at the Congress Bhavan. Over 100 NPP supporters also joined the party.

“I have decided to resign because as a Christian I cannot work with a party which is having a close relationship with the BJP,” said Warjri, who had been with the NPP leaders’ right from the time when they were with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

He said that even parties like the People Democratic Front (PDF) and others are also working hand in hand with the BJP, which he alleged to be an anti-Christian and anti-minority people.

He also said he finally took the decision especially after seeing the BJP-led NDA government of which the NPP is also an ally, had denied visa to the president of Baptist World Alliance Chief DR Paul Msiza for attending the 150th year of Christianity in Garo Hills region.

“Therefore, I realise that there is a need for a strong party to fight such forces and I find that it is only the Congress that can protect the secular fabric of this country,” Warjri added.

Warjri, who was also a former NPP Mawkynrew Block president, also resolved to ensure victory to the Congress nominee from Mawkynrew constituency Olet Kharsohnoh.

Kharsohnoh is one among the candidates who will be contesting against the former UDP legislator Remington Pyngrope, who joined the NPP earlier last month.

“It is time to stop the book symbol, which people cannot understand what it is all about anymore and start supporting the Congress,” he said while claiming that there are around 600 others who will be joining in the coming days.

Earlier in his address, MPCC working president James Lyngdoh expressed confidence that with the joining of Warjri and others, the Congress will no doubt win from Mawkynrew constituency.

By Our Reporter