TURA: The Nationalist People’s Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel on Wednesday slammed the Congress led Mukul Sangma government for its failure to ensure development in Meghalaya in its first ever rally held at New Tura Playground on the outskirts of Tura.
Hitting out at the Congress for bad roads in different parts of Garo Hills General Secretary of NCP, Patel said that the people had given their mandate to the party but it had failed to develop the state. “Be it in Baghmara, Phulbari or Tikrikilla, roads are in a very bad state and we have to search for it,” Patel said.
He attacked Mukul Sangma on the chief minister’s ambitious Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), which promises insurance cover of Rs. 2.80 lakh for each family. “In paper the scheme looks glossy and very big in its name but in reality there is poor implementation of the scheme and people have hardly received its benefit”.
He said that in the name of making the health infrastructure better and medical aid available to the people, the government has fooled the people. Patel said that the Congress came with tall promises for development only during the elections which was why the problems of the people are at its peak. ”For the past five years, the government was busy in corruption and now ahead of election all kinds of promises are being made. As if in a day or two things will change”, he said.
Cautioning that political parties will make all attempts to instill hope and keep their voters happy with food and other facilities but disappear after the elections, Patel urged the voters not to be lured by parties who will keep them happy in the beginning and ultimately leave them astray.
During an interaction with the media after the rally, Patel pointed out that people no longer trusted the Congress. “There is lack of development and corruption in the implementation of various welfare programmes. People want change and NCP will be a formidable force to form the next government given the situation where people are not happy with BJP as they pose a threat on the cultural identity of the people of the state,” he said.
Patel exuded confidence of forming the next government in Meghalaya and said, “If there is a situation, where we have to partner with any other parties, we would look for regional and secular parties”.
However, when asked if they are willing to forge ties with Congress or NPP, Patel said, “We would not want to comment on that, we will take decision at an appropriate item”.
On the party’s candidates for the upcoming elections Patel said that eight candidates have already been finalized and their names will be announced soon. According to him Sitting MLA from South Tura, John Leslee Sangma and Gambegre MLA, Saleng A Sangma, who has been made the party’s state president will contest on an NCP ticket.
