SHILLONG, Feb 18: Facing a barrage of attacks from BJP and TMC, the ruling NPP has launched a counteroffensive against the two parties, alleging that they were from outside and alien to Meghalaya and its culture and ethos.
NPP spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh lambasted the BJP for not doing their “homework” before formulating the party manifesto for the Assembly polls.
“A look at the BJP manifesto clearly reflects that it is an alien party since it fails to understand the dynamics of our society. Our women are already empowered since this is a matrilineal society. There will be feelings of injustice among the males due to the BJP’s promise of providing free education for the girl child from KG to PG,” Lyngdoh told a section of the media on Saturday.
She wanted to know how the saffron party would implement its free education scheme.
“We have seen that most schemes initiated by the BJP are linked with Aadhaar. Many people in the state do not have an Aadhaar card; even I do not have one. Will BJP give the people of Meghalaya the benefit of such schemes without setting any conditions,” the NPP spokesperson questioned.
On the BJP’s promise to provide a scooty to all meritorious female students, Lyngdoh said it was a nice proposal and argued that male students should be the real beneficiary of this scheme.
On the BJP’s promise to provide financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to unemployed youths, Lyngdoh said it would be difficult for beneficiaries to get themselves registered for the scheme.
“The old age pension was initiated by the previous Congress government. The NPP-led MDA government has increased this amount from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 per year. I want to know if the Centre will reject the proposal of those who are beneficiaries of the scheme initiated by the state government,” Lyngdoh said.
On the promise to provide free rice and other food items through the PDS, she wanted to know what kind of card the BJP will issue to people who are yet to get their PDS card.
She also questioned why only widows should be provided with financial assistance of Rs 24,000 and not widowers.
On the BJP’s promise to provide financial assistance of Rs 50,000 on the birth of a girl child, Lyngdoh wanted to know if (Contd on P-4)
NPP attacks BJP…
(Contd from P-3) the mother could use the money to raise the girl child or if the money would be kept as fixed deposit in the bank.
Directing her attention to TMC, Lyngdoh cautioned people against voting for the party from Bengal.
Recalling that TMC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee had stated in Tura that if people press the EVM button in favour of the symbol of “two flowers” it will mean they will vote for party chief, Mamata Banerjee, the NPP leader lamented that the party had sidelined former chief minister Mukul Sangma.
“He (Dr Mukul) has been overlooked by the TMC since the ultimate leader of the TMC is Mamata Banerjee. I felt pity for the former CM who is representing a party whose sole aim is to establish its presence outside West Bengal,” Lyngdoh said.
“I appeal to the people of the state to vote for the NPP which has its roots in Meghalaya since any party from outside will try to impose their own ideologies on the people of the state which is unacceptable,” Lyngdoh signed off.