NGO leaders steal limelight at party’s RBI gherao
SHILLONG: Congress top leaders, party loyalists and supporters were in for a surprise when they went to gherao the local office of the Reserve Bank of India at Dhankheti and encountered three NGO leaders.
Angela Rangad and Tarun Bhartiya of TUR and Agnes Kharshiing of CSWO reached the protest venue before the Congress contingent’s arrival on Wednesday. The drama unfolded when both parties tried to outdo each other in slogan shouting.
The NGO leaders started shouting slogans against both BJP and the Congress for corrupt practices as soon as they saw the protesters approaching the RBI office. The second group too started shouting their lungs out bashing up BJP over demonetisation.
As the Congress members chanted, “Ghar ghar mein shor hain, BJP chor hain,” (every household knows BJP is a thief),” Bhartiya quipped and shouted, “Ghar ghar mein shor hain, Congress aur BJP chor hain,” (every household knows BJP and Congress are thieves).
Rangad asserted that nothing was done to institutionalise the Lokayukta Act in the State and that no decisive action was taken in the education scam.
The NGOs took exception to the ferrying of Ministers, who participated in the rally, in official vehicles. “You are as corrupt as the BJP. You want to talk about corruption, you hypocrites,” Rangad said.
Bhartiya said, “These people came in official cars, isn’t it corruption? This is abuse of power.”
Countering the Congress protesters, Rangad said, “Ask the CM, where is the Lokayukta? Where are the people named in the Panama papers?”
Later, speaking to reporters, Rangad criticised Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the delay in implementing the Lokayukta Act. “It is a mock demonstration,” she said.