SHILLONG: The NPP-led MDA government will complete six months in office on Thursday and the Opposition has termed the governance as old wine in a new bottle since there are no new initiatives.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Congress spokesperson and legislator Zenith Sangma said, “MDA is old wine in new bottle as nothing new is happening.”
He said the MDA is following up several schemes of the previous Congress-led government be it basin development or any other flagship programme of the previous regime.
He, however, deplored the new government for discontinuing some new initiatives of the previous government.
Giving an example, Zenith, who held the sports portfolio in the previous Congress-led government, said the previous government had earmarked fund per year for the development of sports infrastructure in every district through the district sports promotion society.
“It was a decentralised method of disbursement of money, but the new government has done away with it instead of improving it,” he said.
Zenith also pointed out that the formulation of sports policy, which was initiated by the previous government, is pending.
He also wondered as to how Chief Minister Conrad Sangma can declare that within four months the government has finalised the education policy while the previous government took three years to come up with the draft.
“Education is in the concurrent list and not a state subject and it cannot be finalised within a few months without engaging experts,” he said.
The Congress leader added that the Centre’s education policy will also have to be examined by the state government before finalising the state education policy.
On the law and order front, Zenith said at the end of last year, the GNLA militants had surrendered but because of the weakness of the present government, the surrendered cadres are planning to go back to the jungle.
He also pointed out that a small incident at Harijan Colony led to the longest curfew till August 20 in the city due to mishandling of the situation by the present government.
Challenges Ahead
Solution to coal ban
Solution to coal banr
Teachers’ salaryr Harijan Colony impasse
Fulfilment of ANVC pact
National Games
Controversial decision
MDA government fixed a ceiling of up to Rs 40 lakh for purchase of vehicles of the Governor and the Chief Minister.
Price limit for vehicles of Deputy Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary is Rs 20 lakh from the earlier Rs 15 lakh.