BJP worst affected in NE
SHILLONG: The NPP has admitted that that some damage has been done to the prospects of the party over the CAB/CAA row even as he added that it is the BJP which would suffer the most in the North East following its stand on the contentious law.
Talking to media persons here on Saturday, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi, however, maintained that the party remains opposed to CAA and is pursuing the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) and exemption of the state from the purview of the CAA earnestly.
The NPP, which has been spearheading the opposition against CAB, shocked the people of the state when Tura MP Agatha Sangma voted in favour of the bill in the Parliament.
Although the NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma tried to cushion the impact, widespread protests followed till a resolution on ILP was passed by the Assembly.
The government is pursuing with the Centre regarding the implementation of ILP in the state and a response in this regard is awaited.
“To a certain extent, damage is done but people will see how serious we are as a party,” said the NPP state president.
Stating that the opposition Congress has also taken full advantage of the situation, Kharlukhi said, “Opposition has taken advantage of the situation but when it comes to 2023 Assembly polls, we will see. We will go to the people and tell them what we have done that we are sincere and let the people decide”.
On CAA and its impact on the political prospects of the BJP, Kharlukhi said, “In the whole country, I don’t think the CAA will affect the BJP but in the North East looking at the situation as it is today, the BJP is gone in all the states of the North East.”
“BJP will be more affected by the fall of economy besides losing allies in every state,” he added.
Reiterating that the NPP stands to oppose the CAA, Kharlukhi said, “I don’t think it will affect the NPP. We have decided that we are against CAA and even today our national secretary has said that in the North East we are against the implementation of the CAA.”
“We in Meghalaya have passed a resolution demanding ILP and our chief minister will be pursuing it in New Delhi to implement it as soon as possible,” he added.
On the demand to pass a resolution to oppose CAA, Kharlukhi said the demand for exempting Meghalaya from the purview of Citizenship (Amendment) Act is already there and the government is pursuing this.
