Shillong: The Congress party has described the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto, which was released by BJP national president J P Nadda on Wednesday, for the Meghalaya assembly polls as a “lip service full of jumlas”.
“The BJP promised to establish a Special Task Force (STF) under a retired Supreme Court Judge to investigate cases of corruption against the MDA (Meghalaya Democratic Alliance). This is a big joke because the BJP are themselves a part of the alliance,” Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told reporters.
“The people of Meghalaya want to know -what were they doing for the last 5 years,” She asked.
“The BJP has realised that it will not win any seat in Meghalaya, so the announcement of this Special Task Force is actually a veiled threat to other smaller parties to fall in line or else they will be under the scanner,” Shrinate alleged.
Stating that BJP is a threat to the identity of people of Meghalaya, the Congress Spokesperson said BJP polarises and spreads communal disharmony everywhere.
“BJP is anti-Christian with clear evidence of ill treatment of minorities across the country. The anti-conversion bill passed in Karnataka in January 2021 “Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion bill -2021” has put the entire Christian community and minorities in fear,” She said.
“The inhuman treatment and false indictment of Father Stan Swamy, who lived his life for the welfare of the tribal community, and was tortured to death by the BJP is still fresh in our minds. He will remain a martyr who fought for the people’s rights till his end as a true believer of our constitution,” Shrinate said.
Noting that Congress always believed in unity in diversity and India’s diversity is our greatest strength, Shrinate said the people of Meghalaya would like to ask the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi…Will the BJP implement Uniform civil code in the state of Meghalaya?
“We respect the uniqueness of every state in the country. Congress believes in inclusive politics. We respect the diversity Meghalaya as well as the entire North East with its indigenous and ethnic rights,” She said.
Claiming that Trinamool Congress (TMC) is bringing the violent politics of West Bengal into Meghalaya, which was evident in the recent clashes in West Garo Hills district, Shrinate said, “After it came to power in Bengal, TMC supporters unleashed a wave of violence against opposition supporters. The same violent politics of West Bengal is now being imported to Meghalaya.”
Stating that TMC’s “dubious” entry and immediate exit post-election in Goa puts serious doubts on TMC, Shrinate asked, “ Is TMC a silent partner of the BJP? Was the entry of TMC in Goa only a charade done to divide the votes against congress? Is TMC attempting something similar in Meghalaya? Is it intentionally going to cheat the people of Meghalaya also? If they are not in agreement with BJP in Meghalaya, why is TMC silent about the BJP in Meghalaya?”
