SHILLONG, Aug 8: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Vincent H Pala has slammed the NPP-led MDA government for failing to respect the sentiments of people of the state.
Speaking with The Shillong Times here on Monday, Pala said he had information that the state government has invited tenders for setting up of a casino at Khanapara despite opposition from several quarters.
He also castigated the state government for maintaining an adamant stand with regard to the demand for review of the interstate border agreement signed by the two states.
“The government has remained insensitive to the opposition of the stakeholders including border residents,” Pala said while questioning the government’s justification that the MoU was in the best interest of both the states.
Referring to the recent reply given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Prahlad Joshi that no coal production has been reported in Meghalaya in the last four years, Pala said the Union minister shared the information in Parliament based on the feedback provided by the state government.
“The Union minister will not have access to information about the actual ground situation. Personally, I am not surprised since the state government has always been in denial mode when it comes to the question of illegal mining and transportation of coal,” the MPCC chief said, adding that citizens know about the coal illegalities.
On the recent assertion by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma that the NPP would return to power in 2023, Pala termed the reports of people joining the NPP as mere hype.
“It is only some leaders who are joining the NPP. What about the voters? Are they backing the party?” Pala said.
He said only time will tell if the NPP has really been able to garner the support of people of the state.
On his party’s prospects, Pala maintained that the Congress was yet to issue the notification asking people to apply for the party tickets.
According to him, the party is waiting for the Election Commission to announce the schedule for Assembly elections in the state.
Pala said the Congress is targeting to field candidates in all the 60 constituencies. “As of now, I will not be able to say how many seats we are going to contest,” he said, adding that the party has already started the groundwork for the Assembly polls which are due in around six months.
