SHILLONG: The State Congress has dared the National People’s Party (NPP) to break its ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if it wants to prove that they are not working hand in glove with the saffron party.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Congress spokesperson, Ronnie V Lyngdoh said that the NPP apart from NDA should also come out from the alliance which it has forged with BJP in Manipur and Rajasthan.
“Though they are saying they are not part of BJP but facts speak otherwise,” Lyngdoh said while accusing NPP of working with a communal party.
Maintaining that NPP is a part and parcel of BJP, Lyngdoh also accused the NPP of trying to fool the people of the state by showing that they are not with BJP.
“Both NPP and BJP are like two sides of the same coin and apart from their alliance with BJP in several states, NPP is also the leading party in BJP’s NEDA,” Lyngdoh said.
Claiming that the NPP will score single digit in the polls, Lyngdoh also alleged that the massive crowd which NPP is pulling in its public meetings are paid crowds who are being provided with food packets, money and transportation.
Continuing his attack on BJP and NPP, Lyngdoh said that BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the Rajya Sabha on Friday had moved a private member’s bill for a countrywide ban on cow slaughter, but BJP asked him to withdraw the bill since the North Eastern states are going for an election later this month.
He also slammed the NPP president Conrad Sangma saying the MP from Tura in Parliament has not even praised his father upto the extent he is praising the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in the Parliament even as he added that the NPP was affected since people realised that they were part and parcel of BJP.
He also said that the BJP was finding it tough to get candidates and this was the reason the party had released the list of only 45 candidates even as he alleged that some candidates of BJP would have to abide by the command of some businessman here.
He alleged that some MLAs had joined BJP after thinking that BJP would withdraw the ban on coal mining within six months if they come to power but the lifting ban on coal mining was not possible the since the matter was being dealt by the National Green Tribunal and not the Government.
When asked about the Congress’ candidate for three seats which has not been declared till date, Lyngdoh said that the names would be released in a day or two even as he added that the party has multiple candidates in all the three seats where party was yet to announce its candidates
“We are not picking up tom, dick and harry as candidates but we are looking for doctors, engineers, and retired bureaucrats to be our candidates, Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile a statement issued by Congress working president, Vincent Pala said it was very clear as to why BJP shifted a weak candidate like Banteilang Rumnong from Sohra to Pynurusla as they were working together with NPP to help Prestone Tynsong win in his constituency.
“It is abundantly clear from all their actions and facts on the ground to indicate their close alliance with BJP,” Pala said.
He also said that before BJP finally decided its candidate, they had called NPP leaders from Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills to Guwahati and jointly got into an exercise on how to field and where to field candidates