MDA partners dismiss BJP threat as ‘frivolous’

SHILLONG: State BJP’s veiled threat to move out of the MDA Government’, while alleging corruption in GHADC and JHADC, has been dismissed by other coalition partners as frivolous.
President of the United Democratic Party, Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday maintained that the matter should have been first discussed within the MDA before coming out in public.
“Any political party which is part and parcel of the MDA should first discuss the matter internally within the MDA,” he said.
On the allegations of corruption, he said that the BJP should come out with facts and figures on the allegations so that the government can also intervene.
On allegations that BJP MDCs were sidelined in JHADC, Lyngdoh said that it is an internal matter of the MDCs and they can discuss and decide the matter on their own.
Meanwhile, NPP leader and Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira said that he was unaware of the alleged corruption in GHADC and JHADC and questioned if the statement of the State BJP threatening to pull out from the coalition holds any ground without the assent from their central leadership. He questioned that the State BJP cannot just do things on their own without seeking the consent of the central leadership.
The State BJP chief, Ernest Mawrie had alleged rampant misuse of SAG funds by the JHADC and GHADC and demanded a CBI inquiry. Mawrie had also threatened to pull out from the coalition if the NPP-led state government does not pay heed to their demand to stop the alleged corruption in the two district councils. Shira said that he cannot blindly say anything on the matter as he does not know whether there is corruption or not.
On the other hand, Meghalaya NCP legislator and state president, Saleng Sangma however welcomed the demand for a CBI inquiry. He also pointed out that such allegations should be backed with PIL on any corruption charges.
He requested all the NGOs and political parties to file a PIL instead of just making noise about corruption.
On the threat of BJP to pull out of the coalition, the NCP chief Saleng Sangma laughed it out and said that “it is just a joke”.