TURA: A young doctor who passed out from the Guwahati Medical College but chose to trade his profession for that of a mass public leader, Dr Numal Momin is the first Garo politician to be elected from the BJP in Assam’s Bokajan constituency of Karbi Anglong region.
Although this is his first stint as an elected member of the Assam legislature, Dr Momin has quickly risen in the ranks of the BJP which won the state with an overwhelming majority in the 2016 elections. He now represents the Garos and other tribals in crucial meetings with the Assam government.
Late on Thursday afternoon, The Shillong Times caught up with Dr Numal Momin during his brief visit to the border town of Dalu in West Garo Hills where he attended a meeting of the BJP’s Mahila Karyakarta Sammelan programme to boost the party support for the upcoming assembly elections in Meghalaya.
ST: The BJP is looked upon by others as a party propagating Hindutva politics which is not in sync with the life and ways of a tribal. How do you justify your party’s stand in a place like Garo Hills where the majority are tribals?
Dr. Numal Momin: Such allegations have been leveled against our party in the past primarily by the Congress to cover up for its corruption. Right from day 1 the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been saying this is a government with a difference. It is a government for the people of India with development as its core and people of Garo Hills are keen to be part of this development.
You ask if tribals will endorse the BJP? Look at Assam where our party won a historic mandate last year. I am a tribal from the Garo community coming from a tribal dominated constituency. I was elected on a BJP ticket. Today the people of Assam are reaping the economic benefits of the new government. Corruption is out and development is in.
ST: Why do you think the people of Garo Hills will go with the BJP?
Dr. Momin: People in Meghalaya are witnessing the transformation taking place in their neighbouring state Assam. Roads have improved, schemes are reaching the people without any diversion. Very soon we are going to distribute 26000 tractors to farmers as part of the agriculture program. Three years of Modi government at the centre have shown to the people of our country what development really means.
In Meghalaya, the people are seeing how the Congress is taking away developmental schemes for themselves. Look at the roads in Garo Hills and you will know how much the people are angry. They will throw the current government out in the next elections.
ST: But the BJP is not seen as a strong contender to take on the Congress in the coming elections. How do you intend to change that?
Dr Momin: People of Meghalaya, including Garo Hills, are well aware of the changing scenario. More and more Garos and other tribal communities are getting impressed by the developmental track record of the BJP which has zero tolerance for corruption. We don’t need to play any role because the people themselves are seeing what is happening. They will choose the BJP against a corrupt Congress.
