SHILLONG: The azure sky on Wednesday morning belied the weatherman’s forecast of heavy rain and showed a brighter day ahead.
For BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli, it was a good omen both for the party and the State “that has hitherto been neglected by the Congress Government”.
Kohli, who addressed a gathering at Rilbong ground on Wednesday, did not mince his words in denouncing Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and the Congress and threw the gauntlet at Sangma to join a debate on development.
Enumerating the failures of the Congress Government in the State, Kohli dared Sangma to debate on development.
“Meghalaya was once the educational capital and was known as the Scotland of the East. Forget Scotland, it is not even the education capital anymore… Where is that medical college promised (by the chief minister),” he said.
The BJP in charge of Meghalaya was in Garo Hills on Tuesday to address a rally. On Wednesday, the senior leader narrated his experience of travelling on the “broken roads”.
“Only fragments of the road were visible amid potholes. The chief minister is from Garo Hills and he could not ensure development there. What will he do in other parts of the State,” said Kohli, who had a hectic day on Wednesday as the party welcomed two leaders into its fold at separate functions in the city.
Former MLA Manas Chaudhuri and FKJGP leader and politician Sounder Strong Cajee formally joined the saffron party on Wednesday.
While the former was felicitated at Rilbong Club the latter was honoured at Assam Club in Laban.
To a cheering crowd at Rilbong ground, the eloquent Kohli made it clear that BJP is serious about development in Meghalaya as well as the whole of the North East.
“I challenge Mukul Sangma to have a debate with me or even Shibun Lyngdoh if he has the guts,” he thundered.
Kohli pointed out that the party can even compare 55 years of the Congress with five years of BJP rule in the country saying there had been more than 143 visits by ministers to the region and the Prime Minister himself frequently visits the North East.
Earlier in the day, the BJP national spokesperson said even Congress members are not happy with Sangma, who is working for ‘apna vikas, apne parivar ka vikas’ (for his and his family’s development). He reiterated his point at Rilbong saying the chief minister can build a big house for himself but not an Assembly building even in 17 years.
The government recently shortlisted names of consultants and construction of a new Assembly building is likely to start this year.
Kohli also accused the Congress of destroying the beauty of the North East by allowing illegal immigration.
Eye on Laban
BJP is eyeing Laban constituency, which is the stronghold of the party, with the formal induction of Chaudhuri and Cajee on Wednesday.
In his speech at Laban, State BJP President Shibun Lyngdoh said, “BJP’s main agenda is to serve the nation and the people.”
Stating that Laban is the oldest constituency of BJP under the leadership of late T.H Rangad, he said Laban is the stronghold of BJP.
Maintaining that it is not his prerogative to ensure a party ticket to either Chaudhuri or Cajee, Lyngdoh said, “The party ticket is only one and it is not to be confused. However, we are to work for the party.”
BJP leader and Kisan morcha president Fairly B Kharrngi said, “Laban is pro-BJP as it the constituency that has elected late TH Rangad.”
He is optimistic that in 2018, people in Meghalaya will remove Congress from power and will bring the rule of BJP.
“Remove Congress which is a wooden bridge and bring in RCC bridge, which is BJP,” he said.
The BJP South Shillong Mandal also observed three years of achievement of the BJP-led government under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
New members speak
Cajee, while speaking at Assam Club, said he was impressed by the policies of Narendra Modi, who put the interests of the nation and the party before ‘self’.
Stressing on the three Cs – Congress-free Meghalaya, corruption-free state and clean image of BJP – Cajee said, “We don’t want lawmakers who are corrupt and loot government schemes and convert it into family schemes.”
There are some people who are creating a fear psychosis in the minds of the people with regard to the BJP rule, Cajee said.
Speaking about ticket for the 2018 elections, he pointed out that it is up to the party leadership. He was, however, quick to add, “But I pray to God that the ticket will come to me.”
Speaking at Rilbong ground, Chaudhuri said he was fortunate to witness “that period of time that is history by itself as Narendra Modi is shaking up the country and the world”.
He was overwhelmed by Modi’s idea of ‘Pradhan Sevak’ (Prime Servant) and not ‘Pradhan Mantri’ (Prime Minister) and said he was happy to be part of the group of ‘sevaks’.
“Meghalaya has not been able to build up the relationship with BJP and in 2018 there is going to be a paradigm shift in Meghalaya’s political history,” he said.
“I look forward to 2018 as a new beginning before Meghalaya marches towards its own golden jubilee. Fifty years of the existence of Meghalaya but we have very little to show,” the veteran politician said.
There is lack of effort by “political masters” and the machinery of the government that has led the State to a situation where it is felt that Meghalaya has wasted a lot of years.
“Meghalaya cannot run like this forever and the time to change has come and we must rid Meghalaya of corruption and laziness. There has to be a paradigm shift and the moment has come,” he added.
Both Chaudhuri and Cajee have joined the party “unconditionally” and the motto is to work together as brothers, said the new BJP entrants.
