By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 23: State BJP president Rikman G Momin has pushed back strongly against the Meghalaya Congress’ claim that the Northeast regional platform “One North East” is a BJP-RSS construct, asserting that opposition to the initiative is politically motivated and rooted in long-standing rivalry between the two parties.
Momin said the Congress, by virtue of its political position, was free to oppose the platform, but maintained that the BJP had no role in the initiative being projected as a partisan tool.
He asserted that the “One North East” platform has no direct connection with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma leading it, and stressed that the National People’s Party remains part of the NDA. He also pointed out that Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma continues to align with the NDA, arguing that there was no contradiction or hidden agenda in the formation of the front.
The BJP leader said articulating concerns of the Northeast was not the exclusive domain of the Congress, adding that the BJP too had an equal right and responsibility to speak for the region and its people.
The response follows sharp criticism from the Meghalaya Congress, which recently alleged that the “One North East” platform was conceived as a BJP–RSS strategy. The regional front was launched last month in New Delhi by a group of Northeast leaders led by Sangma and Debbarma.
Meghalaya Congress president Vincent H Pala had claimed the initiative was designed because the BJP lacked acceptance among indigenous tribal communities of the Northeast. He had cautioned people of the region to remain wary of what he described as a “sinister” design, alleging that the front was merely another extension of the BJP.
Apart from Sangma and Debbarma, the “One North East” platform also includes former Nagaland minister and BJP national spokesperson Mmhonlümo Kikon, and People’s Party of Assam founder Daniel Langthasa. The stated objective of the front is to collectively highlight and address issues concerning indigenous communities across the Northeast.
