SHILLONG: The Congress and BJP in the State are trading charges against each other with the latter accusing Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma of trying to defame the saffron party.
A day after Zenith Sangma claimed that the RSS, the Hindu right-wing organisation, was working hard to secure votes for ‘communal BJP’ in the State, BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh alleged that the Congress was using illegal immigrants as vote bank in Meghalaya.
“Political parties can say anything. Now the BJP can say that Congress is using illegal immigrants as vote banks,” he said, adding, “To blame any organisation working for the party is a plan to defame our party.” When asked whether BJP and RSS go hand in hand, he said, “I cannot comment on that but as voters, anybody has the right to support any party.”
His views were echoed by BJP state general secretary David Kharsati.
“They are Indian citizens and they can vote whoever they wish to. If he (Zenith) keeps making such statements, we will be compelled to ask for proof,” he said.
Gagan Jain, vice president of State BJP, retorted that Zenith should check his facts.
“How can he say that the RSS is working for BJP when there is no commonality in the organisation in terms of area of work? His allegation does not hold water,” he said.
He added, “RSS has no business working for the BJP and even if they do so it will be their call… we won’t accept it because they are a social organisation and we are a political one.”
