Daryl Momin introduced to crowd at Resubelpara, but vote appeal ‘forgotten’

TURA: Launching the election campaign for Congress in Meghalaya at Resubelpara on Tuesday, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi gave a long list of “achievements” of the UPA government but was silent on the burning issue of militancy in the Garo Hills.
The scion of the Nehru – Gandhi family arrived at the district headquarters of the newly created North Garo Hills district- Resubelpara – to address a crowd of supporters many of whom had been ferried from different corners of Garo Hills, as well as neighbouring Assam.
The venue was the same in which Rahul’s mother Sonia Gandhi had visited in 2003 for the Meghalaya assembly elections and she had promised for the people of North Garo Hills a new district if Congress returned to power in Meghalaya. It’s a different story altogether that the Congress rode to power once again and the new district came into being nine long years after.
Addressing his first ever election campaign in Resubelpara, Rahul spoke at length on the good work done by the Congress and also made an attempt to draw an emotional connect by referring to Congress and the family of party candidate Daryl William Cheran Momin whose grandfather was the first chief minister of the State.
In his 30-minute-long address, Rahul spoke at length on UPA’s flagship programmes and the participation of people from all caste and creed. “The opposition believes in centralization of power and politics of anger. Congress party believes in uniting people, giving power to people, power of youth, women to transform the society and the politics of love”, he said.
He announced one scheme after another which the Congress-led UPA had  presented to the people of the country and the state of Meghalaya, but the Congress leader chose not to raise the burning issue of militancy plaguing the entire Garo Hills region where scores of innocent lives have been lost to bullets. Nor did he make a formal appeal to the crowd to vote for Daryl, the Congress candidate.
He also emphasized on Congress’ ambitious plan to connect Meghalaya through road, rail and air with the rest of India. He mentioned about ongoing and completed projects  like NH 62 (Rongjeng, Songsak – Williamnagar), rail link at Mendipathar and Resubelpara, Shillong by-pass and direct road from Tura to Shillong.
Referring to Arunachal’s Nido Tania killing a few weeks ago in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “It is because of ignorance that Nido was killed”. Elaborating on the point, he said, “Congress stands for every single Indian for their equal space in the country. People of Garo hills and Meghalaya should feel at home anywhere in India.”
He began his speech by greeting the people in the local dialect, ‘Namenga ma’ (How are you?). The AICC president made references to different policies of state government and and how these could be harnessed for deriving benefits. “Congress party has initiated welfare programmes and development projects in Meghalaya. Our party has put top priority for education and empowerment of youth and women,” he said.
On rural electrification in Meghalaya, Rahul Gandhi said, “Opposition failed to provide electricity, our party ensured rural electrification. In Meghalaya, 85 per cent villages have been covered”. Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma, social welfare minister, Deborah C Marak, former chief minister, Salseng Marak and host of other politicians and party functionaries were present during the rally.

No public rally for Pala

SHILLONG: The State Congress has failed to arrange a public rally for the sitting MP and Congress candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat, Vincent Pala like the one attended by Rahul Gandhi for Tura candidate Darly Momin on Tuesday.
Instead of a public rally, Rahul only met the party leaders at the Convention Centre here on Tuesday night to chalk out strategy for both Tura and Shillong.
Rahul reached Shillong via   road from Guwahati to meet party leaders here after the Pawan Hans chopper carrying him did not proceed further from Guwahati due to poor visibility.
“It was too late when the chopper landed at Guwahati after it took off from Resubelpara on Tuesday evening and Rahul took the road route,” a party leader said.
Earlier, the Pawan Hans chopper was scheduled to land at Umroi.
Due to Rahul’s late arrival, his meeting with party leaders was held only on Tuesday night.   When contacted, a state party leader said that he has no idea why a public rally was not arranged for the Shillong candidate.
The party leader also said he was still in the dark on whether there will any public rally scheduled in Shillong before April 7, which is the last day of the election campaign.
There were reports of  tussle for the party ticket for the Shillong seat with Chief  Minister Dr Mukul Sangma supporting a candidate other than Pala, though the AICC finally allotted ticket to  the sitting MP.