Conrad rejects diatribes as BJP’s election ploy

SHILLONG, Feb 18: Smarting under Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scathing attack on his government, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has dismissed them as familiar BJP ploy to catch votes.
In his first reaction in 48 hours after Shah unleashed his diatribe, Conrad Sangma pointed out that in every election in the country, BJP has been using this ploy to pin down its opponents.
Sangma questioned BJP’s high moral ground saying that it was part and parcel of the coalition for past five years.
He claimed that whatever allegations were raised by opposition during the MDA rule, his government had got them all probed.
When reporters wanted to know why probe reports were kept unpublished, he said these were in public domain for everyone to see.
When another reporter questioned why full reports were not uploaded, he replied at least the sum and substance are available.
On alleged Covid funds misuse, Sangma denied the charge adding that public may file RTI to know all details.
As for failure to stop illegal coal mining and High Court’s terse comments, CM said it was difficult to end the practice which has been carried out by the mine owners for over two centuries.
Absolute majority
Conrad, who is NPP’s supremo, has claimed that his party is inching towards achieving an absolute majority.
On TMC and UDP’s resentment over the interstate boundary agreement, Conrad lamented certain leaders politicising the vexed issue when it is about to be resolved.
It may be mentioned that the UDP, in its poll manifesto, has promised to review the border pact.
On sporadic cases of clashes between political parties, the NPP chief claimed that his party workers are “not acting in any way which is not proper”. “We have been maintaining peace and harmony,” Conrad added.