SHILLONG, JUL 15: BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek on Wednesday said government offices should not have places of worship.

His statement came a day after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) locked an alleged illegal temple inside the Central Bureau of Investigation office premises in Shillong and demanded demolition of the same within a week’s time.

Speaking to reporters, the Pynthorumkhrah legislator said he was not taking sides on KSU’s action. He instead stressed that workplaces must remain neutral spaces.

“But my personal opinion is any work place whether it is in the state government or central government, worship place should be in your own private place only or you can go to the identified worship places, not in public places,” Hek said.

He added that government offices are public spaces used by people from all backgrounds, and creating religious spaces there could cause “unnecessary inconvenience” to staff and visitors.

“The government offices are public places. All kinds of public will go there. Why do you want to create unnecessary inconvenience for people who are working in that organization or in any other organizations,” Hek said.