SHILLONG, Feb 1: The Congress hit back at Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday for his claim that there was no development in Meghalaya in the 45 years before the MDA came to power.
AICC media coordinator, Bobbeeta Sharma asked him if his father, the late PA Sangma, did not do anything for the state as the CM (1988-90), MP and Union Minister.
“What message is the CM trying to give? That his father was a failure? That as a Congressman, the late Purno Sangma did not contribute anything for the development of Meghalaya in all these years?” Sharma asked.
While launching his election campaign two days ago, Sangma had claimed the MDA government helped the state overcome 45 years of underdevelopment. But the Congress said by making such a statement, the CM not only discredited the work done by his father but also the very existence of Meghalaya, granted statehood by the grand old party in 1972.
Alleging Sangma’s involvement in “neck-deep” corruption along with MDA members, Sharma slammed the NPP for fielding an engineer, responsible for the collapse of the dome of the under-construction Assembly building, in the elections.
“Instead of punishing the culprit, the MDA government is rewarding him. It proves they stand with the corrupt and are with corruption,” she said.
She alleged the MDA is taking the help of the BJP to get protection from corruption. She said Ampareen Lyngdoh joined the NPP as she is under the scanner of the CBI.
The AICC said former CM Mukul Sangma had made the greatest mistake of his life by leaving the Congress and joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Recalling that PA Sangma too had merged his party with the TMC but the friendship did not last long, the Congress claimed the TMC is considered a party from “outside” in Meghalaya and not accepted.
“Mukul Sangma is wasting his resources by joining an alien party. The TMC will be rejected by the conscious people of Meghalaya. Just as the BJP, the TMC is also considered an outsider here,” the Congress said.
Another AICC media coordinator, Mathew Antony claimed anti-incumbency is high and the only binding factor for all alliance partners is monetary benefits. He criticised the TMC for its silence on the BJP.
