TURA: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday called Mukul Sangma a “mere minister” who lacked leadership qualities and said the Congress has no accountability.
Addressing a gathering at Chibonga village in Kharkutta in North Garo Hills during the celebration of the NDA government’s three years at the Centre, Khandu denounced his counterpart for lack of development and deceiving the people of the State for 35 years.
“People trusted the Congress for 35 years but they gave nothing in return. For the Congress, it is party first and people last. BJP and its allies have brought changes and that is why the North East is seeing progress,” he added.
Citing the example of the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam, Khandu said it was conceptualised in 2003 by then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but was set aside by the Congress.
“When BJP did not come to power, the Congress chose to sit on it for a decade of its rule. It was only after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister that money was re-sanctioned and it was completed.”
The Congress was also pilloried for the several scams which were unearthed during the UPA rule.
“The Congress Government is plagued with scams… in BJP there is accountability as well as development. The people of Garo Hills should vote for change,” Khandu said.
On the ongoing beef controversy, Khandu challenged the Congress to point out where the ban on beef consumption was imposed in the region. He reiterated senior BJP leaders’ claims that the Grand Old Party had nothing to talk about and that the beef issue was raked up to portray BJP as an anti-Christian party.
Former MLA K.C Boro termed the Mukul Sangma-led Government as a “6 pm government” as against the “6am BJP government”.
“The Congress is on its last leg in the State. It is a 6 pm government (setting sun) now and we are the 6 am (rising sun). They have lost the mandate of the people after the last MP elections,” Boro said.
During the meeting, BJP candidate for the constituency Synal M. Sangma was also introduced to the 1,000-odd crowd.
Dudhnoi MLA Dipok Rabha promised that the dilapidated road from Daranggiri to Kharkutta will be repaired soon.
The meeting was also attended by BJP State President Shibun Lyngdoh, State Vice President Rikman Momin and North Garo Hills District President Digros D. Shira.
