SHILLONG: United Democratic Party (UDP) MDC Donkupar Sumer asserted that Rs 133-crore Special Assistance Scheme allotted by the BJP-led central government has caused rifts among political parties.
Speaking in the Zero Hour notice moved by Congress MDC Donevan Wanlang on the report appearing in a vernacular paper that stated that Nongpoh received lion’s share from the Rs 133-crore scheme while Laban got the least, Sumer said the scheme is a magnet that has pulled everyone, including a church elder, into its fold. He was referring to People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MDC Blandingstar Warjri, who won the district council MDC bye-election on an HSPDP ticket.
Taking a dig at some MDCs who defected to PDF, some who were from former Congress, UDP and HSPDP MDCs, he said, “All over India, there has been an opposition against defection. In politics, defection is a major crime.”
On the other hand, he expressed concern that the schemes for 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 are 29 MDCs with each getting an amount of Rs 3 crore.
“If all 29 MDCs get Rs 3 crore, then the total comes to Rs 87 crore. Again, not less Rs 30 crore has been approved for council asset. Rs 30 crore and Rs 87 crore amount to Rs 117 crore. If we deduct Rs 117 crore 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. Sumer was allegedly informed that the Rs 2 crore scheme meant for Umsning market will be divided and distributed amongst the PDF MDCs.
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, chief executive member 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 funding for PDF, Syiem said Sumer will have to clarify on the allegation if he cannot provide proof of it.
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.
Anti-defection law
With Sumer raising the defection of MDCs to other parties allegedly 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 criticised
On the other hand, Sumer also grabbed the opportunity to hammer fellow UDP MDC Equator Nongrang who was absent since Day 1 of the KHADC session.
Asserting that it is his habit, he said there are official documents of the District Council and urged the Chairman of the KHADC to send the documents to Mairang Sumo stand which will reach Nongrang’s constituency of Mairang.
