SHILLONG, Dec 24: Cabinet minister and BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai has retorted to detractors who said there are few takers for the party’s poll claim stating that the BJP would spring a surprise and question former Congressmen.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Shullai said, “Why is the discourse being given a deliberate ‘religious twist’? I was shocked to see learned people diverting the minds of the people from development related issues, the problem of drugs and unemployment to religious propaganda against BJP. I want to ask all these big wigs — where in Meghalaya has the Christian community been harassed by the BJP government?” At the Centre, Shullai claimed, the government has only worked for the betterment of the Christian community in Meghalaya. He even stated that the Christian community of Meghalaya thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, during his recent visit to the Vatican City, had requested the Pope to visit India.
The BJP MLA stated that the central government under the leadership of Modi had sanctioned Rs 10-crore for Nongsawlai Presbyterian Church for development of infrastructure, for pilgrimage facilitation in Meghalaya under Prasad scheme.
He also revealed that BJP leaders led by State BJP president Ernest Mawrie and newly joined MLAs will soon meet the Union Tourism Minister GK Reddy to consider sanctioning central funds for development of infrastructure of various churches and others religious institutions in Meghalaya.