SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister DD Lapang has ruled out panic in the Congress, asserting that the party would be in the government next year.
In a show of confidence, the MPCC chief told reporters on Monday, “There is no panic. There is no danger. We will be in the government next time. Deep water runs slow but it works well.”
Maintaining that the party was offering its services to the public, the veteran leader said, “The footprints of the Congress imprinted in Meghalaya cannot be denied. You cannot even wash the marks left by the Congress with soap.”
Lapang further said the party would go to the polls in accordance with the principles, ideologies and manifesto of the party.
Asked about People’s Democratic Front, which is speculated to be led by suspended Congressman PN Syiem, he said, “We will see after the results. I have worked hard in Nongpoh but ultimately it is the choice of the people you may not know.”
“Everybody has the right to offer their services. Whether BJP or NPP is strong, we will not interfere…we are only concerned about strengthening, revamping and making our party functional,” he said.
However, the veteran politician also took a dig at the BJP and its policies. “People are not foolish. They are observing the policy of the BJP. What freedom have we got? Secularism is being affected,” he alleged.
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“We just sell our goods to them (the public). We open and sell our goods in our shop. There is no need to put up a poster asking people to come to our shop only,” Lapang said.
Commenting on the criticism received by the government on not framing any policy on education, sports or youth policy, he said, “They (critics) say that and they don’t speak on what has been done. There is always a merit and demerit.”
Citing an example of a farmer ploughing the field, he said, “A farmer will get bruised from thorns and bites from mosquitoes. People will talk about the mosquito bite but will forget that he ploughed the field the whole day.”
“It is too early to say what will happen to the Congress. We don’t want prophets to tell now what will happen next… but we are trying to do the best for the party,” Lapang said.