SHILLONG, Sep 25: Rajya Sabha member and National People’s Party (NPP) state president, WR Kharlukhi has hit back at Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale for challenging Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to a debate on alleged irregularities in Meghalaya.
“If he has the guts, let him follow wherever I am going for camping and we will debate in front of the public as they are the ones who will decide for 2023,” Kharlukhi said.
Gokhale had asked Tynsong to engage with him in a debate on the irregularities in the implementation of the Shillong Smart City project, the collapse of the Assembly dome and anomalies in the contract-awarding process and misgovernance.
Kharlukhi said he should have been challenged in his capacity as the state president instead of Tynsong. “Why does the TMC national spokesperson have to get into the matters of the state when they have a full-fledged unit here? This shows the TMC is a proxy party of Bengal in Meghalaya,” he said.
“They have no issue other than linking BJP with NPP when we are two different parties,” he added.
In a letter addressed to Tynsong on Thursday, Gokhale said: “Sir, yesterday you conducted a press conference with several media and press outlets in Meghalaya. During this press conference, you were questioned about the facts of several irregularities that I, on behalf of the TMC, have raised over the last 2 months especially pertaining to the matter of Shillong Smart City Ltd and the collapse of the Meghalaya Assembly dome and the anomalies in the contract process.”
“In response, you failed to provide any answer to the allegations and instead referred to me and said that ‘If he is so concerned, let him come to Shillong and find out’,” Gokhale wrote, adding, “I have been in Shillong constantly over the last 2 months and have seen first-hand the irregularities in the administration about the issues I have raised.”
He stated that he will be in Shillong in a week’s time and invited Tynsong for a discussion/debate in the presence of the media in Shillong on the issues of misgovernance. “Any date in the first week of October at your convenience is suitable for me. I eagerly hope you will accept my offer and await your response,” the TMC leader wrote.
When contacted, Tynsong said: “Let him come.” He refused to speak any further.
Debate challenge meant to bust govt rhetoric: George
TMC MLA George B Lyngdoh on Sunday said Gokhale’s challenge to Tynsong was meant to expose the state government which has been entertaining the people with mere rhetoric and vague statements that hold no water.
He said the open debate is meant to ensure that people have everything before them in black and white with regard to the massive allegations of corruption in the Meghalaya Assembly project and instances of mismanagement in the implementation of the Shillong Smart City project.
Asserting that it was up to the deputy CM to take a call on accepting the challenge, Lyngdoh said: “Ignoring it will mean that the government is shying away from its responsibility.”
