SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad delivered the final punch on Sunday, the last day of canvassing, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was “anti-North East” and had hidden agenda to strengthen the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons after a public meeting in the city, the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee said the Centre abolished the industrial policy for northeastern states and special category status after BJP came to power.
Azad, who was the last of the Congress’s star campaigners in the state, harped on BJP’s anti-minority agenda saying, “We all know their stand is against Christians, minorities and tribals… BJP also did away with the 90:10 funding for northeastern states.”
The MP cited the example of violence against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and cautioned that the saffron brigade might intrude into people’s kitchen to check what meat is being cooked.
“Fridges and utensils are being searched to see what sort of food people eat… I forewarn the people of Meghalaya not to be misled by the BJP,” he added.
During his visit to the glass mosque in Laban on Sunday morning, Azad told reporters that the Congress government in Meghalaya was the best performer in the country and it would further take the state to new heights.
“Meghalaya’s growth rate in 2014 was “the highest” and unemployment the lowest,” he said.
Extolling Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for his “extraordinary work”, the senior politician, who is the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said he was “100 per cent confident about Congress’s poll prospects”.
Addressing another public meeting at Rilbong in support of South Shillong candidate Manas Chaudhuri, Azad targeted central BJP ministers for their frequent visits to Meghalaya and other states in the region.
He said the visits were not intended at bringing development to the region but strengthening the RSS and forming their units in the North East.
‘Re-packaged schemes’
Azad accused the BJP of packaging and repackaging the schemes and programmes of the UPA government and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a master of repackaging.
On the Rs 70 crore sops given by the BJP to religious groups, he said the saffron party makes tall promises before elections and later forgets its promises.
“If BJP comes to power, people of the state will not get freedom because they will be ruled by RSS that has its headquarters in Nagpur,” Azad said.
