By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 28: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday clarified that expenditure on festivals and events is aimed at promoting Meghalaya and Shillong on the global stage and boosting tourism and economic activity.
Addressing concerns, the chief minister maintained that such spending does not come at the cost of key welfare sectors.
He informed that such initiatives form part of a broader strategy to strengthen the state’s visibility and economic prospects, and emphasised that the government has adopted a balanced approach in its spending priorities. “These efforts are not undertaken at the cost of farmers, students or the health sector. Our approach ensures balanced and inclusive growth,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has, on several occasions, criticised such expenditures, describing concerts by international artists as “painkillers” used to mask failures in delivering real benefits to the people.
