Resubelpara: Chief minister and president of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said the NPP-led government had “managed to change the perception of Garo Hills” among the people, both in Meghalaya and outside of it, especially at the Centre, and brought development to the region.
“In last five years, we have seen visible change and development. Garo Hills had the reputation of being a disturbed region but today the situation has changed and has improved for better. People are able to business and trade without any hindrance,” Sangma said while addressing a huge rally at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills on Wednesday.
Seeking support for NPP’s Mendipathar candidate, Marthon Sangma, the NPP supremo claimed that in Mendipathar the NPP-led Government has built more roads in three years then past 30 years.
“Close to 200 km roads under PMGSY was constructed in last three years, and 3.5 lakh people in rural Meghalaya were connected through piped water connection,” he cited.
He said that the Government of India has also hailed Meghalaya for the accomplishment of targets in implementation of different schemes.
Stressing that NPP as a government keeps people’s concerns first and works with a humane approach, he said, “As a Government, we always initiate a dialogue to resolve concerns of the people and do not use force to resolve a problem”.
Claiming that the people of the State have pledged their support to NPP as they have seen “how NPP works” to resolve the concerns of the people, Sangma said, “We don’t scare people with guns. We believe in listening to our people’s concern”.
On Wednesday, he focused on two constituencies in North Garo Hills – Resubelpara and Mendipathar, where he campaigned for Timothy D Shira in Resubelpara and Marthon Sangma in Mendipathar.
At Daram playground under the Resubelpara constituency, Conrad urged the people to come together to vote for a party that cares for Meghalaya.
“In 2018, the political scenario was different and it has drastically changed today. Most political parties in Meghalaya have weakened in the last five years, whereas NPP has emerged as a major political force in the State,” Sangma claimed.
He said Congress had made inroads in the region but it has become redundant after their leaders shifted to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). “Today Congress and TMC are campaigning to popularize their parties, but going by their campaign trail, they have miserably failed,” he said.
Appealing to the people to make a “conscious decision” in this election and vote for a party that has demonstrated its concerns by ensuring concerted development in the region, the NPP chief asserted, “NPP has fulfilled the promises made in 2018 and remains committed to further initiate development and welfare. For NPP, the people’s concerns come first”.
He exuded confidence that in 2023 the NPP was confident of forming a single majority government.
“Our assessment from across the State is clear as people are coming out in large numbers to pledge their support to NPP. People of Garo Hills have been able to live in peace for the last five years. There has been no law and order situation. There was no instance of kidnapping and extortion in the region compared to previous years. People have led a peaceful life,” he said.
