Indian Muslim leader expelled from BJP for voicing support for Rohingyas

Benazir Arfan says that there is no place for monitories in the ruling saffron party

A Muslim leader in India, Benazir Arfan, was expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this week after she uploaded a post on social media voicing support for Rohingyas Muslims fleeing Myanmar.

The state executive member of the saffron party’s ‘mazdoor morcha’ or workers’ wing was expelled from BJP on September 18, according to Hindustan Times.



“I was suspended from the party on Thursday and expelled four days later. The action was taken without giving me a hearing and the decision was conveyed through WhatsApp,” said Arfan.

Arfan quit her job in 2015 to join the BJP. The 30-year-old was a well-known face of the BJP.

Last week, the former BJP leader posted a message on Facebook urging people to attend a prayer meeting in Guwahati for Rohingya refugees. The very post did not go down well in some circles of the BJP as the saffron party’s governments in the centre and Assam are against allowing Rohingyas entry into India or providing them with a refugee status.

Arfan was suspended from the party for raising the issue on social media without taking party’s approval and was asked to submit a response to a show cause notice within three days of why disciplinary action should not be taken against her.

“I replied to the notice but a disciplinary action committee of the party expelled me indefinitely without giving me a hearing. No party leader called me or sought my views,” complained Arfan.

In the expulsion letter issued on Monday evening, Arfan was accused of ruining the BJP’s image several times by indulging in anti-party activities.



“Based on recommendations of the disciplinary committee, state unit president Ranjit Das has removed you from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect,” said the letter sent to her on WhatsApp.

“While the party took action against me, they didn’t do anything to another woman member who organised a prayer meeting for Rohingyas. Women in the BJP are expected to remain silent and serve tea during meetings. It troubles the hierarchy if we raise issues,” maintained Arfan.

“The party is also doing lip service in the name of being there for minorities. They are not serious about our issues and no genuine leader from the community is allowed to rise,” she insisted.

This story originally appeared on Hindustan Times.