NPP state prez dares Bernard to substantiate charges against MDA

SHILLONG, Dec 6: The National People’s Party (NPP) has dared BJP state vice president Bernard Marak to substantiate his recent charges against the MDA government.
“Are you lying or just misleading the people for political gain, Bernard Marak? If you have the facts as pointed out by you, who is stopping you from doing the needful as mentioned? Do it and don’t just be like an empty vessel making political noises,” NPP state president Dr WR Kharlukhi said on Tuesday.
He said if Marak has the proof, the latter can lodge an FIR or move the court against the government. Otherwise, Kharlukhi continued, the charges would be viewed as “mischievous political propaganda”.
Countering Marak’s statement that the NPP is the BJP’s “B team”, Kharlukhi said, “It seems to be in consonance with the TMC calling us the BJP’s proxy. What a coincidence! With two MLAs in 2018, it really amuses me to see how they (BJP) flex their little political muscles.”
He reminded Marak that it was not the NPP but the BJP which started the trouble. It is his party which keeps on threatening to withdraw without having the guts to do so, Kharlukhi added.
Despite being allies and constituents in the MDA, the two parties do not share a cordial relationship now. The BJP often seeks to corner the government with charges of misgovernance and corruption but the NPP would demand proof.
Earlier, BJP Meghalaya in-charge Chuba Ao had threatened that the party would pull out of the MDA within a month. He had also stated that the BJP is gathering evidences of illegalities and corruption against the MDA to set the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation after it.
Months have elapsed since but the saffron party is still a part of the MDA. The BJP state leaders are divided on the issue of withdrawal of support.