SHILLONG: United Democratic Party (UDP) MDC in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Donkupar Sumer has alleged that the Rs 133 crore Special Assistance Scheme allotted by the BJP-led Central Government has caused rifts in the political parties.
He was taking part in the discussion on a Zero Hour notice moved by Congress MDC Donevan Wanlang, on the report appearing in a vernacular paper which stated that Nongpoh received lion’s share from the Rs 133 crore scheme while Laban got the least.
According to Sumer, the Rs 133 crore special assistance scheme was the magnet that had pulled everyone including a Church Elder, referring to People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) MDC, Blandingstar Warjri, who won the MDC bye-election on an HSPDP ticket.
Taking a dig at some MDCs who defected to PDF, he said, “It (the scheme) has drawn many to its fold. In politics, defection is a major crime.”
He also expressed concern that the schemes for each of the MDCs amounting to Rs 3 crore which was sanctioned out of the Rs 133 crore has not been distributed equally amongst the MDCs.
Sumer pointed out that there were 29 MDCs and each getting an amount of Rs 3 crore. He said, “If all 29 MDCs get Rs 3 crore each, then the total comes to Rs 87 crore. Again, not less Rs 30 crore has been approved for Council assets. Rs 30 crore and Rs 87 crore together amount to Rs 117 crore. If we take away 117 crores from Rs 133 crore, the total comes to Rs 16 crore. So where is the remaining Rs 16 crore?”
“I want to be clear as to where is the remaining Rs 16 crore ? I want to be clear whether the Rs 16 crore is the share of party fund for PDF” he said.
PDF MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit raised a point of order on the ground that Sumer cannot take the issue on a personal note by referring to a political party.
To which an adamant Sumer asserted that he should not be disturbed when he is taking part in the discussion.
Amidst the din, the CEM PN Syiem raised a point of order taking objection to the use of the word, “Church Elder” which according to him “is very wrong.”
To this criticism, Sumer apologised and chose to withdraw.
Again, referring to the allegation of Rs 16 crore fund for PDF, Syiem said that Sumer should provide proof for this allegation.
Syiem, in his reply to the Zero Hour notice, said that he will provide a report to the MDCs on the Rs 133 crore special assistance scheme and that his office is open for the MDCs to discuss on the matter.
Law to prevent defection
With Sumer raised the defection of MDCs to other parties allegedly in order to get a fair share of the Rs 133 crore special assistance scheme, Congress MDC Manstudy Nongrem also stated that MDCs tend to leap from one party to another.
In this connection, he said that a law should be in place to check defection of MDCs.
Nongrang criticized
On the other hand, Sumer also grabbed the opportunity to hammer fellow UDP MDC, Equator Nongrang who was absent since day one of the KHADC session.
Asserting that it is his habit, he said that there were official documents of the District Council for Nongrang and urged the Chairman of the KHADC to send the documents to Mairang Sumo stand which will reach Nongrang’s constituency of Mairang.