SHILLONG, Feb 7: Independent candidate from North Shillong, Michael Kharsyntiew’s cash-for-ticket allegation has ruffled many feathers and the man has now come out in defence of the issues flagged by him earlier.
According to him, the 2019 cash-for-ticket case has made him retrospect the idea that people like him should not be duped by those that hold important positions in the party.
Talking to reporters after filing his nomination here on Tuesday, Kharsyntiew revealed that an amount of Rs 34 lakh was given to party’s former president and general secretary, whose names he refused to divulge, to help him avail the ticket during 2018 Assembly polls.
Kharsyntiew decided to raise the matter in 2019 as he felt the party leadership must have knowledge about the persons involved in demanding money from aspiring candidates.
He clarified that his intention was not to defame the party but to pave the way for corrective measures. “But unfortunately the party leadership never took action against the two leaders ever after the disciplinary committee in its inquiry had found both to be guilty,” the Independent said.
Asked for his comment on State BJP president Ernest Mawrie questioning the timing of raking up the issue, Kharsyntiew said he was left with no other option but to highlight the issue now as it was reported in a section of the media that he was denied the party ticket for flagging the cash-for-ticket ‘scam’.
“I had a copy of the report since 2019 but I never made it public. Now, I feel as an honest party man it is my duty to bring to the notice of the public the scam of the people who are part of the BJP,” he added.
