‘BJP not behind no-trust move’

SHILLONG: BJP senior leader Nalin Kohli has denied that the saffron party is behind the Opposition’s decision to move no-confidence motion against the state government in the upcoming winter session starting from December 8.
Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Kohli said he was unaware of such instruction that NPP should move no-trust on behalf of BJP in the Assembly.
Kohli pointed out that though BJP and NPP are in a coalition at the Centre as well as in Manipur, they are contesting the elections separately in Meghalaya.
The BJP national spokesperson and in charge of Meghalaya said the decision of senior Congress leaders not to contest the election is a certificate of no-confidence to the party.
“I don’t see any party wave here in Meghalaya but there is one wave and that is the Congress will not return to power,” he told reporters.
When asked if BJP is finding it difficult to list popular faces in Meghalaya for the 2018 elections, Kohli said the party’s parliamentary wing decides who should be taken into BJP’s fold.
However, he added that the party has young promising leaders in the state who have not contested elections.
To another query, the BJP national spokesman claimed that the BJP is the only option for those who want to see the Congress out and for those who believe and want to bring the agenda of “sabka saath sabka vikas” in Meghalaya.
No politics, only devp
A day after KJ Alphons met church leaders “to discuss social issues”, Kohli reiterated that the meeting was not to discuss politics but developmental issues. “Meeting church leaders cannot be termed as communal,” he said.
On the party’s decision to withdraw the ban on cow slaughter, Kohli put the blame on the Congress. “The ban on cow slaughter is an outcome of a Supreme Court order under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act brought by the Congress and BJP does not say what people should eat or wear,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader also defended Himanta Biswa Sarma who is facing corruption charges in the Louis Berger scandal saying as per the Constitution, a person is innocent until proven guilty.
“I will not hold guilt against anybody unless there is court order based on evidence,” he added.
On being asked about Chief Minister Mukul Sangma hailing Rahul Gandhi who is set to be the president of the AICC, Kohli said a Congressman recently alleged that the entire process of election is rigged and it has become a family-run enterprise.