Laskar says no to CM presence at 2-day debate

Shillong: The observer of the AICC Minority Department, Rejaul Karim Laskar, said on Monday he was ready for the two-day debate challenge of BJP’s HB Lotha.
In a statement to the media, Laskar said he was pleased to know that Lotha, the BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha national secretary, has accepted his invitation for a debate on the policies of Congress and BJP on tribals and minorities.
Though Laskar wanted the debate to be of 10 hours duration, Lotha wanted it for two days.
However, he put the condition that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma “should debate with him”.
Laskar said on Monday even two days will fall short to list the anti-tribal and anti-minority policies of BJP. The AICC observer further stated that if Lotha wanted to debate on corruption issues he will not shy away from it.
However, it should not be limited to baseless allegation of corruption against Meghalaya Government but should include corruption prevailing in BJP-ruled states and corruption by the NDA government at the Centre.
Laskar also rejected the condition that the chief minister should come on the third day.
“Mukul Sangma is a man of action as compared to BJP chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Yogi Adityanath who are men of words,” he said.
The AICC observer further said if the BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha national secretary accepts the debate for 48 hours without any condition, he is ready to meet him either in Shillong or any other mutually agreed place in Meghalaya in front of media persons and citizens.