SHILLONG: Senior BJP leader and Pynthorumkhrah MLA AL Hek on Friday urged public representatives to exercise caution in their choice of words, saying Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar’s “wife-stealing” remark could send the wrong message to the younger generation.
Hek, reacting to Dhar’s statement during a press briefing on Thursday, said his concern was less about a personal response and more about the impact of such language on children and young people.
He clarified that Dhar had not directly addressed the remark to him, adding that he had heard and watched the statement twice.
“If he had told me directly, I know how to react also. But since he has not told me directly, I will have nothing to react to,” Hek said.
The BJP leader, however, questioned the example public figures were setting through their choice of words, particularly when making statements during live interviews.
“What are we teaching to our children, what are we teaching to our upcoming Gen Z? So we have to be very careful before we speak,” he said.
Hek added that remarks made publicly by leaders carried a responsibility, warning that such language could influence the attitudes and behaviour of the younger generation.
“Any language in a live interview, to give that kind of statement is really sending a wrong message to the upcoming generations,” he said.
