By Albert Thyrniang
The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma first attended Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s nomination rally in Varanasi on April 27. Then he accompanied Home Minister, Rajnath Singh to Bishop’s House in Lucknow on May3. It seems the CM cannot but follow the instructions of the saffron party, the BJP. It looks as if he has to comply to the directions of the current bosses of the ruling party at the centre. It is quite obvious now that he is a BJP admirer.
His decision to be by the side of the PM along with other NDA leaders from the North East has reinforced and reaffirmed his close links with the RSS backed party. Of course, he and his party are free to be associated with any political party, including the BJP. But he should state it clearly. So far there has been ambiguity about the relationship between the NPP and the BJP. As an MP, the NPP supremo stated that his support to the NDA was issue based. During the Meghalaya Assembly election last year he, more than once, categorically stated that his party had nothing to do with the BJP – a Party that minorities look at with apprehension. However, soon after the results were out he was more than willing to embrace the BJP. You have to notice a subtle insincerity here.
Then came the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)! The Chief Minister was inconsistent. He opposed the communal ridden bill. His cabinet was the first to take a resolution against the ‘unconstitutional and illegal bill’. Intentionally ignoring strong opposition, protests and sentiments from Meghalaya and the North East, the BJP which was already in poll mode, bulldozed the bill and passed it in the LokSabha. Refusing to act, the CM threatened to pull out of the NDA if the controversial Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. In the run up to the last parliamentary session it was more than clear that the BJP was determined to enact the Bill if it comes to power. In our very region the PM and the BJP president, Amit Shah reiterated their intention to pass the dubious bill. Though the bill was never introduced in the Upper House, the BJP tried every trick in the book, to do so. Our CM could have easily cut off ties with NDA but strangely he did not. Conrad Sangma seems to be attached to the BJP’s string.
Now, was it necessary for the CM to go the temple city, Varanasi and the India’s most populous state capital, Lucknow? Meghalaya had already voted on April 11. So, to drive home the facts let me ask a hypothetical but a very relevant question. If the polls in his home state were to be after Varanasi and Lucknow would the CM have gone to the twin cities in UP? I think the answer would be a resounding ‘No’. So, again we see an element of dishonesty in the CM.
The younger son of PA Sangma has been defending his relationship with the BJP on the basis of development. He justified his solidarity visit to Vanarasi from this view point. He claimed that in the last five years, the centre has taken up a lot of developmental works in the state. Informing that Central sponsored schemes have increased 4-5 times, he said that funds under PMGSY have multiplied ten-fold, amounting to Rs 1400 crore in last one year alone. So, for him and his supporters, funds are the primary reason for the friendship and cordiality with the likes of Modi and Shah.
Now, we know that India is a federal structure. The Central government has a constitutional duty to assist the states in their developmental effort irrespective of who rules at the centre and who is in power in the states. That assistance is not conditional and certainly not based on friendship between the CMs and the PM. That assistance is not based on ideology and political differences. Concretely, the Union Government has to provide assistance to the Trinimool Government in West Bengal, the TDP Government in Andhra Pradesh, to TRS Government in Telangana, the AAP Government in Delhi, the Left Government in Kerela, the AIADMK Government in Tamil Nadu, the Congress Governments in Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh etc. Even though Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu, HD Kumaraswamy, PinarayiVijayan, K ChandrashekharRao, ArvindKejriwal and PinarayiVijayan are bitter political rivals the Centre cannot deny development of their state.
Part XI of the Indian constitution deals with the federal structure of the Indian Republic. Defining the country as the “Union of States”, the distribution of legislative, administrative and executive powers between the Union/Federal/Central government and the States of India(state governments) are specified in this section. Besides the distribution of powers, article 275(1) provides grants-in-aid for needy states from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Constitution specifically says that by law funds are to be allotted for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in different states including all the states in the North East. Therefore, the central government is duty bound to provide funds for the development of states. If the Union government implicitly or explicitly says that it will fund projects for development only for states whose leaders are cordial with the Centre then that is nothing short of black- mailing and as such it must be condemned, opposed and exposed. Moreover, the Centre itself breaks the constitutional law of federalism. That party that rules at the Centre is anti-constitutional and anti-federalism.
It appears that our CM and other CMs in the North East are hooked by the Centre. The Centre seems to have played a trick on them. The Centre is using its muscles on them. A threat of ‘unless you support us you will not get funds for your state’ seems to be in place. Or a pact might have been made somewhere to this effect. Perhaps, the North East leaders need to be educated on federalism. They have easily compromised on their ideology on the promise of funds for their states.
It is suspected that leaders from the North East have gained individually and for their parties for allying with the BJP. ‘The funds for the state’ must only be a mask for massive personal benefits. With a declared income of 1,034 crore, BJP is the richest political party in the country and one of the wealthiest in the world. The Congress is a distant second, with only Rs. 225.36 crore. Is this the reason for which non-Congress leaders in the region are attracted to the BJP, not so long ago disliked by North Easterners? Secretly people estimate scandalous amounts which might have changed hands with politicians from the seven sister states.
The NPP chief has been accused of benefiting from the illegal coal mining. The black money derived thereof might have been used to fund elections in the state and outside the state. It is a fitting case of curiosity. The NPP has put up candidates in 11 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the Northeast. It is not just the number of seats but the ‘Meghalaya party’ is gaining clout across the region. Who is funding the party? Besides the black diamond, could the BJP be the other bigger source? Therefore, the chief has to submit himself to the wishes of the top brass of the BJP.
Why do you have a problem with the BJP? It is only a political party, commented one seemingly NPP supporter on social media. Well, the party in question might be a political party but it is backed by a proto-fascist organisation, the RSS. The BJP cannot exist without the Sangh. The so called social organisation is the ideological base of the BJP. The BJP just carries out the agenda of the RSS. And the RSS’s agenda is Hindu Rashtra where other religious minorities would supposedlybe subservient citizens. RSS’ ideology is Hindutva, which is defined as ‘Hindu cultural ethos’. It foresees one religion, one culture and one language in India. Our CM might contribute to the ‘acceptability’ of the BJP and RSS in the state.
Another allegation against the CM is that he is not in control of his government. Is he being remote controlled from Delhi? Are there rich and powerful men in the national capital who issue directions? Is our CM trapped? Is he being influenced ideologically? Is he changing his political colour? What are the compelling reasons for his increasingly cosy relationship with the communal party? Is he ready for the title,‘saffron pracharak’?