Shillong sees heated exchange as BJP protest outside Congress Bhavan 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 1, 2025

A heated exchange of slogans between BJP and Congress workers erupted in Shillong after the BJP staged a surprise protest in front of the Congress Bhavan. 

The protest was sparked by derogatory remarks allegedly made by a Congress worker from Bihar against the late mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, the Congress rejected the BJP’s claims, alleging that the protest was a political tactic to divert attention from the issue of vote theft.

BJP Yuva Morcha president Mewaker Lyngdoh justified the protest, stating that it was against the insult hurled at the Prime Minister’s mother by Congress worker Mohammed Rizvi, who was later arrested. 

Lyngdoh thanked the police for taking action against Rizvi.

Lyngdoh announced that the BJP would not only protest in front of the Congress office but also plan to stage a protest in front of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) office, as they believe that no action has been taken against TMC MP Mahua Moitra for her alleged derogatory remarks.

The state BJP had filed a zero FIR before East Khasi Hills SP demanding action against Moitra. Lyngdoh stated that as a leader, one cannot make irresponsible statements that create differences among people. 

According to him, the party claims to stand for development, peace, and harmony.

Condemning the action of the BJP, MPCC Secretary Manuel Badwar described the protest as a diversionary tactic to shift attention away from the party’s own controversies.

“It is a very tactical move  from their side which I believe that they want to take away the entire limelight of the vote theft that time and time again the whole country is talking about, the whole country is witnessing that this is actually something which has a lot of weight, has a lot of truth,” Badwar said while highlighting the issue of vote theft in various elections, citing reports that suggested irregularities in over 70 seats, and accused the BJP of trying to hijack the democratic process.

He emphasized that the real issues facing the country are unemployment and the unequal distribution of wealth, which the BJP is trying to divert attention from.

Badwar accused the BJP of playing politics based on religion, caste, and family, and targeting the Gandhi family, which has borne the brunt of criticism for a long time.

Referring to a recent BJP meeting held in Shillong, Badwar claimed that the BJP’s protest was instigated by their leaders and was an attempt to please their party hierarchy rather than a genuine concern.

He reiterated that the Congress would continue to stand for the poorest of the poor and would not be swayed by the BJP’s tactics.

Badwar expressed hope that the public is aware of the BJP’s game and would reject their divisive politics.

He predicted that the mandate of the people in the upcoming polls would show a different result, and the democratic process would prevail.

“The wave in the entire country is moving towards that. I believe that 140 crores people are starting to realise now that the BJP has done nothing and the BJP has created wealth for a few people and the country is becoming poorer as far as income is concerned,” Badwar said adding “Meghalaya is one of those states which is actually taking the brunt of it all and for them to come and protest here is something which we definitely condemned and we would not like that to happen again.”

“The game that they are playing is well understood by the public at large. They are very good at diverting attention of the people to something which is irrelevant. They should take care the vote theft that they have been doing and I think the mandate of the people in few states that are going into polls will definitely show a different result this time. We have this hope that the democratic process of the country will stay alive and will not be dead or killed by these kinds of politics that the BJP is playing,” he added further.