SHILLONG, Feb 11: The BJP on Saturday said it is fighting the elections for a corruption-free state, dynasty-free politics and development of the last mile house.
Without taking any name, BJP national general secretary Rituraj Sinha, who is heading the party’s election campaign, said two families have been dominating state politics for decades. He said it is unique that every member of these families, be it brother, sister or wife, is in politics.
“Four-five MLAs are coming from one family. This is not healthy for democracy and this needs to be changed,” Sinha categorically stated.
To a query, he said this is not a time to consider alliances. He was optimistic that the BJP would emerge as the central force in Meghalaya.
“If it can happen in Assam and Tripura, why not in Meghalaya?” he argued.
He said the BJP is contesting the polls in all 60 seats for the first time in Meghalaya as people have seen the development work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they are fed up with corruption in the state. People find Modi trustable as his government does not face even a single charge of corruption or scam, he added.
Asked if the BJP will act against the alleged corruption and scams under the MDA government, Sinha defended the party stating that it has continuously raised its voice against corruption despite being a part of the coalition.
“But in the democratic system, numbers count and our numbers in the Assembly were so small that we were not yielding enough influence but post-election, we will come out with significant strength and work towards rooting out corruption from the state,” the BJP leader said.
He denied the charge that BJP is anti-Christian. He said the party’s rivals did not raise the issue a year ago but raised it now to gain political mileage.
He said as the opposition parties cannot blame the BJP for anything as it performed well in terms of governance and development, they are playing the same old card of terming it as communal.
“But people are aware that in Nagaland and Goa, many of our ministers and MLAs are Christians. The BJP has not enforced a ban or changed people’s food habits or culture in any state. The BJP has never acted against the church,” Sinha claimed.
According to him, the PRASAD scheme is facilitating the redevelopment of several church institutions. He pointed out that Modi was the first global leader to visit a church in Sri Lanka after it was bombed by the terrorists.
“During the last visit of Modi in Shillong, he said he would invite the Pope to visit India and even to Shillong. Is this the conduct of an anti-Christian political outfit?” Sinha asked.
Terming illegal coal mining in Meghalaya as dangerous and a source of corruption, the BJP leader said there is a need to find out a solution to the problem through consultations – a solution that is not just good for economy and industry but that balances environmental concerns and safety of the people involved in mining.
On the charge of cash-for-vote scam against BJP state president Ernest Mawrie, he said it is an allegation and it does not establish the truth of the matter.
No individual in the party can dole out tickets as there is a democratic process where an individual has to submit an application which is then scrutinized by the party’s state election committee and even the central election committee, the BJP leader added.
