MANIKGANJ: The ruling Congress in Meghalaya turned out to be the favourite whipping boy of the BJP as it celebrated its third year in office at the Centre while eyeing the seat of power in Meghalaya post 2018 Assembly elections.
Holding two separate public rallies in East and North Garo Hills districts on Tuesday, the state top brass of the BJP were out in full force to present the achievements of the Narendra Modi government while taking a dig at the Congress that was decimated in the most crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, as recent as last month.
Leading the charge against the Congress accusing it of a ‘misrule’ in Meghalaya, BJP National Spokesperson and Meghalaya in Charge Nalin Kohli addressed a large gathering of party supporters at Manikganj, in Mendipather assembly constituency of North Garo Hills on Tuesday evening where he gave a detailed account of the central schemes and accused Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of failing on the developmental field.
“The central government is releasing funds regularly to Meghalaya, but it is not reaching the people. The free gas connection for BPL families is already getting implemented all over the country except in Meghalaya. Why has the scheme not reached the poor?” questioned Nalin Kohli.
“Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has only one agenda- Apna Vikas, Apna Parivar ka Vikas, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda is Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas,” added Kohli before a rousing applause from the crowd of several thousand people who waited for well over five hours to listen to him speak.
The BJP leader has called upon the voters of Garo Hills to demand an accountability from the Congress for its failure to fulfill its promises.
“You must seek an answer from the Congress as to what it has done for the last 7 years under Mukul Sangma. As a voter you have the right to seek accountability,” said Nalin Kholi as he targetted the chief minister over the delay in setting up of the Tura Medical College and Hospital.
Giving a comparison about the governments of Assam and Meghalaya, he said that under one year of a BJP government a foundation has already been laid for a state of the art All India Institute of Medical Sciences, near Guwahati, while the medical college in Tura is yet to see the light of day.
Solution to border dispute!
Minister of state in the Assam Government Pallab Lochan Das has said that the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya can reach a permanent solution if both state governments see reason. The junior minister who attended the three year NDA government celebration at Songsak in East Garo Hills and Manikganj in North Garo Hills, bordering Assam, was of the view that a government run by the same party in both states would help the dialogue process.
Taking potshots at Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, the Assam minister claimed that the last inter-state meeting on the border dispute held at Guwahati failed to make any headway.
“Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma attended the meeting but, had very little to say and left after having tea without any major decision being taken,” said minister Das. He added that”Parivartan’ was the need of the hour in Meghalaya.
