SHILLONG, Jan 9: United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh said that the party is seriously perturbed about the attacks against churches and the Christian community.
“I had raised this matter when President Droupadi Murmu had visited the state last to year to campaign,” Lyngdoh said.
He further stated that he had made mentions before the President about reports in the media and on social media on the incidence of attacks against Christians which are taking place across the country.
According to him, such incidents are a matter of concern even for the citizens of the state.
When asked about the letter issued by the Assam government seeking vital information on conversion and setting up of churches, he said that the party would try to get all the information as to why such letter was issued.
“This kind of letter is uncalled for and very unfortunate. It should not have any kind of negative impact on those churches and Christians living in Assam,” Lyngdoh said.
When asked that the UDP is part and parcel of both NEDA and MDA coalition, which BJP is part off, he said that the party is allying with the NPP which is leading MDA coalition and BJP happen to be part of the coalition.
‘UDP can perform
better than NPP’
On the political front, the party president said the UDP can perform better than the National People’s Party (NPP) if given the mandate to lead the government.
“We will do much better if the people give us the mandate. If people are not happy under the leadership of the NPP, then give UDP an opportunity,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
Asked if the MDA coalition will continue post Assembly polls this year, the UDP president said the question does not arise at the moment as every political party is eyeing a single majority.
“As the party we are also fighting to get absolute majority. At the moment, our target was to form the government on our own. The question of having coalition with any political party after the polls does not arise at the moment,” he stated.
According to him, the party is confident and is reaching out to all constituencies to ensure that the electorates make no mistake this time and elect the UDP in the elections.
On allegations levelled against the NPP of misusing government schemes and programmes ahead of the elections, Lyngdoh said that everybody is trying to do this ahead of the elections.
“But I do not see it is going to benefit anyone. People should understand that this kind of benefits is coming before elections. People should be wise enough to look at all these aspects,” the UDP president said.
Reacting to the remark of TMC leader Dr Mukul Sangma that the allies of the MDA cannot wash their hands on the wrong occurrences, he said that the party has been vocal whenever it has felt that there is a need. “We have also spoken on the controversies and agenda in any of the departments,” he added.
