Showing Support For Rohingya Cause Gets a BJP Leader Suspended

Benazir Arfan was suspended days after she urged people to join a meeting to be held in support for Rohingyas.

Benazir Arfan (left) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Benazir Arfan) 

The Assam unit of the BJP suspended party member Benazir Arfan on Monday, just days after she urged people to join a meeting to be held in support for Rohingya Muslims facing persecution in Myanmar.

The solidarity meet was organised by United Minority People's Forum, an NGO operating out of Guwahati.

The general secretary of the party's Assam unit, Dilip Saikia, told The Indian Express that Arfan – an executive member of the party – had organised "a rally over the Rohingya Muslim issue in Guwahati without seeking any permission of the party or raising the matter first in the party forum".

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The BJP suspended party member Benazir Arfan after she urged people to join a meeting to be held in support for Rohingya Muslims(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Benazir Arfan) 

The BJP and the central government have a definite stand on the Rohingya Muslim issue, and there cannot be any deviation from that. But she clearly flouted the party line, necessitating such a drastic action.

Dilip Saikia to <i>The Indian Express</i>

Meanwhile, Arfan hit out against the BJP, calling her suspension an "insult" and alleging that the party has been conspiring against her ever since she pointed out to injustices within the party.

I got a suspension letter through WhatsApp. I wasn’t even given a chance to explain and I want action against state president Ranjeet Das.

Benazir Arfan

Arfan also put up a Facebook regarding the whole issue, where she called out the party for its "dictatorship like Hitler's", with "no democracy and no respect for women".

Joining the BJP in 2015, Arfan went on to contest the Assam state assembly polls in 2016 from Jania constituency, but lost by a huge margin to the Congress candidate.

(With inputs from ANI)

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