SHILLONG, Oct 2: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Sunday condemned the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for using the government machinery to “market” their political party.
“It is sad that the Chief Minister who is said to represent the state as a whole and work for the welfare of people in an unbiased manner is using a government platform to market his political party. This is totally unacceptable and should be condemned by one and all,” HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said.
According to HYC, only the NPP leaders including Sangma were seen at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Nongstoin-Maweit Road on September 30. The others were all NPP legislators and members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
Even the tent for the VIPs and leaders of the party was adorned with the colours of the NPP flag, the youth body said.
“The same venue was used to officially lay the foundation stone and to hold the so-called party meeting. Can a party promote narrow political agenda at a government event or use the venue of an official programme for its activity?” Synrem asked.
Labelling the event as a “gross misuse of power” by the largest constituent of the ruling coalition, he said: “We feel that the politicisation of a government project by one particular party is a blatant attempt at manipulating the residents of the villages for electoral benefits.”
He said the improvement of civic infrastructure and overall development of the state is the prime responsibility of any elected government and it is not a favour done by the government to the people.
“The funds for the projects are from the public exchequer and not from any political party. Had it been from the private fund of a political party, we would have had no issue at all. But taxpayers’ money is not meant for political advertising by any party,” Synrem said.
Stating that bringing in party colours to any government programme is only for political traction, he said, “We strongly condemn the NPP’s attempt or for that matter of any political party in power to politicise the state’s development projects and misleading the people through the propagation of their own party’s flags.”
He said the HYC will be vigilant and cautioned the parties in power not to politicise any government projects in the near future.
“We also call upon the people of the state to be vigilant against the excesses of political opportunists and protest as and when they come across such activities,” he added.
