SHILLONG, Dec 2: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma hit back at Opposition leader Mukul Sangma slamming him for terming the inauguration of new blocks and civil sub divisions as a “political gimmick”.
“It is sad that he (Mukul) is seeing this good development which is being given to the people as a political gimmick. This remark is very unfair for the people of those areas where the civil sub divisions and blocks have been given,” the CM said while speaking to reporters.
He recalled that even the Leader of the Opposition, when he was the CM, had done the same thing.
He recalled that Chokpot Civil Sub Division was announced during Mukul’s tenure as CM just before the elections.
“I don’t know whether it was an election gimmick when he did it in 2012,” Conrad said. “May be for him he has taken those decisions with a political motive,” he added.
Asking the former CM to speak to people in those areas to understand their pains and challenges, Conrad said, “I guess at that time, he did not really want to do anything for those people.”
According to Conrad, as CM for eight years, Mukul could have give them these C&RD blocks.
The CM reiterated that the state government has taken the decision to introduce new civil sub divisions and blocks solely for ushering in development and getting administration closer to the people.
Renouncing that there is a political stand in the government’s initiative, Conrad said the people should be happy that development is reaching people at the grassroots.
“If the opposition leader were to talk with the people of these villages, he will come to know that they are very happy,” the CM said.
He said that they should ask people who live in Patharkhmah, Namdong, Rambrai and Rongjeng on the kind of challenges they faced every day in terms of travelling to merely avail basic services provided by the government.
“I am sure those people where these developments have gone realise the benefits of this decision as this will make a huge difference in their life,” Sangma said.
When asked about the financial implications, the CM said that the salary for staff in the blocks and civil sub divisions will amount to about Rs 2 crore.
According to him, there is also the need to put up buildings and infrastructures in the long run.
Recalling Mukul’s term as the CM, he said Raksamgre Civil Sub Division was inaugurated by him in 2012.
“It is only now I have sanctioned the new building for this civil sub division. All these years, the Raksamgre Civil Sub Division has been functioning from a temporary building,” Conrad added.
