Don’t politicise central schemes: Sawkmie to BJP

SHILLONG, June 22: Suspended Congress MLA, PT Sawkmie on Wednesday asked the BJP not to play politics over central schemes.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla had on Tuesday said Meghalaya was neither implementing the central schemes properly nor sending proposals to avail them.
He had called upon the state government to work in coordination with the Centre so that people, particularly the villagers, benefit from the schemes.
But Sawkmie said, “This is not the time to play politics by saying that the state government has not implemented the central schemes properly. The BJP should not take advantage just because they are in power at the Centre.”
Surprised to read about Barla’s statement, he said he thought the Union Minister would appreciate the state government for effectively handling the flood situation.
Earlier, he stated the state was expecting Barla to announce central assistance for Meghalaya which needs huge funds to reconstruct infrastructure damaged by the rains. He also said the state is looking forward to getting Rs 300 crore.
The Union Minister’s criticism of the state government was in line with the charges of the BJP’s state unit about aberrations in the implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes in the state.