VPP reminds NPP of ‘most corrupt govt’ jibe by Shah

SHILLONG, March 27: Raking up an old issue, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Wednesday said the National People’s Party (NPP) leadership did not have the courage to question Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he had alleged the Meghalaya government is the most corrupt government in the country.
“No one dared to ask Amit Shah to prove his allegation against the NPP-led government. But when I made a similar accusation, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had asked me to prove it since I am nobody,” VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said at Mawsynram while addressing a rally which was organised to drum up support for party’s Shillong candidate Ricky AJ Syngkon.
He said the BJP often says it rules Meghalaya but the NPP never raised any objection to this claim. This only proves the NPP is the face of the BJP in Meghalaya, he added.
Basaiawmoit said an attempt is being made to confuse people through remarks such as what the VPP candidate will do if he gets elected since the party opposes the use of Hindi language.
“We are not against the Hindi language. If elected, our candidate can choose to speak in English or Hindi in Parliament,” the VPP chief said.
He said the VPP will keep opposing the use of the Hindi language in the Assembly as Meghalaya is not a Hindi-speaking state.
Further, he said some parties tried to mislead people when the VPP said it would protect the interest of the non-Khasis.
“We are talking about protecting the interest of genuine non-tribals who are residing in the state for the past many decades. But we are going to oppose the entry of illegal immigrants into the state,” Basaiawmoit said. The VPP dared its critics to come up with a statement that they will ask all non-tribals to leave the state if people elect them.