KOHIMA, July 26, 2017: Two days after a youth from Nagaland posted a controversial statement in social media accusing a BJP leader of downplaying the Christian community during a public gathering at Pangti village of Wokha district, the BJP Nagaland unit on Wednesday has filed an FIR against the youth while denying of making any such comment.

On July 24, a Naga youth identified as Openthung Odyuo from Pangti village uploaded a controversial post in a whatsapp group and it didn’t take long before the post went viral in social media. The statement triggered criticisms from several quarters including Church bodies in Nagaland.

This was what was posted in the group:

“Jesus cannot bring development. Only BJP Government can bring development.”

– _Ananta Narayan Mishra, Secretary, BJP, In-charge of Northeast India on July 19, 2017 at Pangti village of Wokha district, Nagaland”

What was meant to be a joke turned into a serious matter when a local pastor, Rev Amos Humtsoe submitted a letter to the NBCC, CRC, NEI, Catholic Church, Nagaland Christian Forum, Nagaland Theological Association, National Church Council of India, NEICC (North East India Church Council) and CBCNEI demanding an investigation into the matter. “We would appreciate to counteract with befitting answer for the safeguard of Christians in India. For this, we are not against of BJP, but against some irresponsible fanatic leaders,” Rev Amos wrote in the letter.

Reacting to this, the BJP Nagaland unit on Wednesday has filed an FIR against the Naga youth, Odyuo terming the post as a “false propaganda” against the BJP party and Ananta Mishra, thereby damaging the image of the party.

According to the FIR copy, the BJP state unit said that this post has polarized by inciting to create communal feelings especially to the Nagas and also bringing in confusion to the entire nation which can damage the peaceful co-existence of all faith and community in the state.

“This is a serious matter which needs to be immediately investigated and book the culprit as per law to avoid any confusion or repercussion in the near future,” the FIR copy read.

Soon after the matter went out of hand, Openthung Odyuo issued an apology letter to the BJP president Wokha district on Wednesday whereby he cited that what he had written in the post was baseless and rumours which was meant only to be shared within a small group of friends but unfortunately it had spread all over the state and beyond.

“I tender my apology as I have no intention to tarnish the image of the central leader or the party”, Odyou wrote in his apology letter while urging Ananta Mishra to accept his apology.

However, when asked whether the BJP will withdraw its FIR after apology was tendered, BJP officials replied in a negative.

TNT News