Bernard challenges CM to open debate on corruption

TURA, May 26: Just a day after Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the saffron party, which is a constituent ally in the MDA coalition, is free to withdraw support to the government, an irate state BJP vice president, Bernard N Marak, has now challenged the chief minister to an open debate on alleged corruption and the need for a CBI probe.
“Let’s debate on corruption issues and the need to conduct CBI inquiry into various scams raised by BJP. BJP is not in MDA to profit from the scams but to voice against it. Accept the challenge and prove your stand. BJP will not stop to raise corruption issues. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma should prove publicly why he says no to CBI inquiry,” Bernard said.
Maintaining that the BJP was not a corrupt party, Bernard said that the schemes introduced, under the BJP regime, are people-oriented and mostly meant for the poor.
“Today, our coalition partners are looting the poor with their lies. Enough of scams! We gave them time to reform but all we see are scams. We want all regional parties and other constituent allies to choose good governance over corruption,” the Tura MDC said.
According to Bernard, he was treated as an opposition in the GHADC.
Maintaining that there would be no compromise on corruption, the BJP leader said that debating to prove a point was justified.
He added that because NPP treated BJP as Opposition in Garo Hills, it has no coalition with BJP.
With regard to the chief minister’s statement that BJP was free to withdraw support to the MDA, Bernard said that it was nothing but cheap politics.
“Money and power is not everything in politics, good leadership is. Sidelining many MLAs from Garo Hills proves they don’t care for the people of their constituencies. Tura, after BJP winning the MDC seat, is being targeted by depriving the basic needs of the people and creating fear psychosis through evictions. They should give a chance to other MLAs from Garo Hills so that they can provide the basics to their people,” the Tura MDC said.
Asserting that the party’s campaign against corruption will continue, Bernard called on like-minded parties to come forward and draw a new roadmap for the state and its people, unlike the NPP which, he asserted, is looting even the poorest of beneficiaries.