Shillong, Jan 4: The BJP in Meghalaya today fired a broadside at the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Vincent Pala for hatching a design to polarize people of the state on religious line.
The BJP while thanking Vincent Pala and others for raising the issue of atrocities against Christians in Chhattisgarh, which is a Congress-ruled state, the BJP hit out at the MPCC President, Vincent Pala for himself trying to polarise the public and then blaming the BJP for it.
In a statement issued today the saffron party said, “The BJP has always spoken about ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (Everyone’s growth, taking everyone along) and has always acted in accordance with this principle. No BJP scheme or policy has ever discriminated against people on the basis of their religion.
“There are over 2.5 Lakh farmer beneficiaries in Meghalaya who receive Rs. 6000 per year in their bank accounts. There are more than 1.5 Lakh households in Meghalaya that have been connected with tapped water.
“There are more than 60 thousand families in Meghalaya who have received home under the BJP govt. programme. Most of these beneficiaries in Meghalaya are Christians and their religion has never been a hurdle in obtaining these benefits.
“On the other hand, in Chhattisgarh, which is ruled by the Indian National Congress (INC), the Christians are truly under attack. Christian families have had to run away from their homes and live in refugee camps in stadiums and Church premises. Churches have been attacked and vandalised.
“Christians have been attacked and injured. And the Congress government has kicked backed and relaxed, as if watching a show with popcorn in hand. Why is Christian life in Chhattisgarh so cheap for the Congress when Vincent Pala in Shillong claims that he will fight for the tribals and the Christians,” the BJP asked.
The BJP also questioned the competency and intent of Vincent Pala and the Congress by stating, “The Congress has had the chance to rule Meghalaya for a major part of the last 50 years since the formation of the state. If the Congress’ fight for the interest of the tribals and the Christians over the years have got us literally nowhere in the last 50 years, then one can only imagine that it is simply because the Congressmen are incompetent and guided by mal-intent. The next 5 years under the Congress will also get us nowhere.”
“The Congress policy is that of divide and rule and other political parties have also picked up this trick now. Wherever there is Congress there is division of people and fairytales of development. Wherever there is BJP-led governance, there is development of people and false propaganda of division and polarisation by the opposition.”
The BJP charged the Congress and others of trying to polarise the polls by bringing up these false narratives against the party and diverting public attention from the real issue of lack of development, poor growth, invisible progress, deteriorating education, diminishing health, bad road, lack of tourism infrastructure, etc.
“The BJP will work for all the people of Meghalaya and will not disappear after elections to reappear 5 years later like Vincent Pala has done,” the saffron party said.