NPP calls BJP paper tiger, dares it to quit coalition

SHILLONG, June 1: The four-year-old marriage of convenience between the National People’s Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party seems to have soured and reached a point of no return with both sides coming out with dares for each other on a regular basis.
Following the recent dare of the BJP to initiate a CBI probe, the NPP has now come out with a fresh taunt on Wednesday with party’s state president WR Kharlukhi terming the BJP as paper tiger and daring them to pull out of the NPP-led coalition government.
He asserted that they have had enough of the BJP and their threat of withdrawing support.
“Do they have the guts to do it?” he questioned the BJP, while issuing a blunt warning to the party not to threaten the NPP by making political statements.
“We won’t entertain threats. Enough is enough. If they cannot work with the coalition then they should walk out,” he added.
Kharlukhi’s outburst is a result of the statement made by Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie who had said that the party would take a call on pulling out of the MDA within a day or two.
To a question on whether there was any chance of reconciliation between the two warring sides, Kharlukhi said, “How do you discuss with these people? How long can you live with threats that they will do this and that.”
“My message to the BJP is clear. If you have the guts then pull out and if not then do not make political statements. Just keep quiet,” he added.
Reminded that the NPP and the BJP were partners both in the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and the North East Democratic Alliance, Kharlukhi avoided a pointed reply and said, “There will be no impact at the Centre. The BJP has the majority in both Houses and they don’t need us.”
On the likely impact at home, he said, “Let them pull out and we will see if there is any impact or not.”
Citing corruption and irregularities as major factors and reiterating their commitment to zero tolerance against corruption, Mawrie had on Tuesday said the party will meet and take a call on pulling out of the NPP-led alliance. He had made it clear that the final decision on withdrawal of support would be taken by the party’s central leadership.