The Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) protest against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attending the Behdienkhlam Festival at Jowai as the chief guest has drawn severe criticism from both the BJP and the festival organisers. They accused the party of politicising a sacred cultural event.
Cabinet Minister and BJP leader Sanbor Shullai slammed the VPP’s stand, calling the protest ‘embarrassing’ and ‘misplaced.’ He said the demand that Sarma first resolve the interstate border dispute before attending the Pnar community’s traditional festival had no connection with the celebrations. The organisers had invited Sarma only to witness the cultural event and not for any political discussion.
The festival organisers also hit back strongly, defending their decision to invite Sarma and urging the VPP to stop interfering in the festival’s internal affairs. They stated that the organisation and conduct of the festival, including the invitation of guests, fall solely within the jurisdiction of the festival organisers. These decisions are made independently and without political influence.
The organisers appealed to political parties not to drag the revered festival into partisan debates, saying the invitation reflected ‘long-standing values of courtesy and hospitality’ and should not be misconstrued as support for any political position. They called on all sides to ‘preserve the sanctity of Behdienkhlam’ and keep it ‘a symbol of harmony, faith, and unity, above partisan interests.’
