SHILLONG:
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) from the state WR Kharlukhi expects the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 government to promote entrepreneurship and tourism in the next five years and resolve the unemployment crisis.
“We have to venture into new avenues since there are lots of scopes in our state,” Kharlukhi said.
Asked about the charges of corruption made against the previous MDA government and what he would like to see this incumbent government do differently, the Rajya Sabha MP said that, even in the past, he had made it evidently clear that the charges of corruption were nothing but “mischievous political propaganda.”
He also questioned the MDA alliance partners for succumbing to the propaganda.
He said he was against corruption, and challenged those accusing the government of it to furnish evidence substantiating the claims.
“If people who raise this issue have the chance to be in the legislature, they can bring the evidence there, since RTI is there,” Kharlukhi said.
He added, “It is not for political purposes to say that no one voted against the NPP [National People Party]. We had an MDA government and people again gave their verdict in our favour.”
According to him, despite everything, the NPP is back with its previous allies.
He also said that the legislators who are part of the MDA 2.0 cabinet are well qualified and expects them to perform well.
Asked on the charges made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma of “horse trading” leading to the failure to form an alternative government, Kharlukhi said that he “really pities” Sangma.
“He has to say so many things… well, if you find money, the Election Commission is there, why don’t you write [to them],” Kharlukhi said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said that the TMC leader should at least accept that the people of the state voted against him.
Meanwhile, on the approval of the cabinet to bring a Bill to repeal the much-opposed Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021, in the assembly’s upcoming budget session, he said that the NPP-led government is going with the demands of the public on the matter.
He also reminded that it was the MDA government which had passed the resolution to urge the Centre to implement Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya.
“We go by the views of the public because we are the government of the people,” Kharlukhi said.