By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley has accused the ruling Congress of keeping the border open in Bengal and North East for Bangladeshis just for their votes.
“Due to Congress’ vote bank politics, the culture, language and demographic structure are under threat in the Northeast and West Bengal,” he said while addressing an election rally here on Thursday.
Jaitley said that his party would not allow such vote bank politics of Congress to continue.
Stating that the partition of the country has created problems for the region, the BJP leader said, “The partition has increased the distance between the Northeast and other parts of the country. But, this problem of distance has not been addressed by Congress and hence transportation has become a problem.”
Coming down heavily on Congress leadership, he said that the party is led by those people who lack leadership quality. “Country is suffering from policy paralysis,” he said.
The BJP leader while going all out against Congress urged the voters of the state to ‘earn freedom’ from Congress, which is presently ruling Meghalaya and the majority of the Northeastern states.
“Let the Congress be defeated in all the North East states and Meghalaya should show the way by supporting BJP candidates so that a corruption-free government could be put in place,” Jaitley said.
According to Jaitley, it was the NDA which gave a separate department for the North East to look after its welfare and development devoting 10 per cent of all Central schemes.
Regretting that the NDA-initiated East West corridor connecting Gujarat and the NE was stagnant, the BJP leader said, “everywhere the highway has been completed except in the NE.”
Stating that the 2G scam cost the country Rs 170,000 crore, he said, “If 10 per cent of that money was spent on NE, connectivity would have increased over a 100 times.”
The BJP leader also released “Meghalaya Vision 2025- “Forging Ahead to New Heights”.
The 25-point vision emphasized on the need for affordable and accessible healthcare, potable water and Management of water resources, Developing of urban areas, women and child development and other sectors
It says that the people of the state want to banish poverty and illiteracy and ensure that every family has the opportunity to live a healthy and secure life.