NPP ‘secular’ despite ties with BJP

SHILLONG: Ratika Yumnam, the newly appointed national youth president of NPP, said on Monday though the party is in alliance with BJP, it is still independent and committed to secularism.
“Just because we are in alliance does not mean that we are dictated by any party and we are very much rooted to our commitment to secularism,” Yumnam, while responding to queries about NPP’s ties with BJP, which is often tagged as communal, told journalists here.
Asked about her priorities, Yumnam said she wants the party to focus on youth empowerment in terms of employment and skill development based on local context and special needs.
She also stressed on the need to focus on quality education.
MLA James Sangma predicted change in Meghalaya and said NPP would play a crucial role in it.
James said the anti-incumbent wave has hit non-performer Congress and “anyone who wants to join NPP with the intention to serve the state and the nation is welcome”.
On Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s move to contest from Ampati and Songsak constituencies, James said he was scared to lose.
“It is like an insurance scheme where if he fails in one seat, he will win the other. This is just insecurity and eventually he will fail in both seats,” the NPP leader added.
He termed the move as mockery of democracy and said if the chief minister wins from both seats, a by-election would have to be called at a time when Mukul was talking about strengthening the economy of the state.
“Mukul Sangma can contest from all the 60 seats but this is unfair as he is taking people for a ride at the expense of the state exchequer,” he said and added that around 500 NPP and independent workers joining the Congress in Williamnagar was a “political gimmick”.
When asked about NPP’s chief ministerial candidate, James said that the party is in the process of constituting its state election committee that will decide whether it should have a chief minister face before the elections or after.