SHILLONG: BJP leader Alexander Hek has issued a robust denial of the allegations levelled against him by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma that he joined the BJP for his personal gain and to augment his own business interests.
“When I was in Cabinet, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and other ministers requested me to introduce them to senior leaders in New Delhi. So, were all those advances for my personal gain or the benefit of the people and the state? Hek asked.
“Around 12 years ago I had said that I was in politics to serve the people and my business is for serving my family and I still say the same thing. I don’t compromise,” he said.
The BJP leader added that he was not a government supplier or contractor. “Mine is a purely private business and I haven’t taken a single pie from the government,” he maintained.
Hek asserted that he is not a new face in the BJP and was a part of the party for as many as 20 years when the BJP had senior leaders of the likes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.
“I am with the BJP since the time nobody was there,” he claimed.
Hek recalled that he had met Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and met him again after he became Prime Minister solely for the benefit of Meghalaya.
While maintaining that he respects the Chief Minister, Hek said he had joined the BJP to usher in development in the state and for the welfare of the people. “Myself and Chief Minister being senior leaders, we cannot afford to make baseless comments,” he added.
