SHILLONG: The Congress has challenged BJP to a debate on pending matters related to coal mining and empowerment of headmen.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, the general secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, John Kharshiing, said on Thursday that BJP leaders, including Alphons Kannanthanam and Nalin Kohli, are in ‘blissful ignorance’ on certain issues which are affecting the State.
“They say that after coming to power in Meghalaya in 2018, within eight months, they will solve the coal mining issue, but they forgot that the file related to the matter is on their table pending for long,” Kharshiing pointed out.
According to the Congress leader, the State Assembly passed resolutions twice seeking central intervention in exempting Meghalaya from the purview of central mining laws through a presidential notification due to the nature of land tenure system in the state as majority of land is private.
“The Centre and the Coal Ministry are not addressing the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly while the central BJP leaders keep on saying that within eight months, they will facilitate coal mining. When they can do it now, why should they wait for the elections to be over,” Kharshiing said.
According to Kharshiing, India is a federal country and the Centre should address the resolution passed twice on the same coal issue.
Similarly, the Congress leader said the Village Administration Bill (VAB) was turned down by the Ministry of Law and Justice by stating that the institution of the Dorbar Shnong is unconstitutional.
“We will be happy if the central ministers clarify on these issues during their visits,” Kharshiing said.
The Congress leader also asserted that he was ready for a debate with the central BJP leaders in this regard.
