Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on September 29 lectured the media for persistently asking about the challenge posed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Saket Gokhale for a debate on various issues raised by him against the government.
Asked about the second challenge posed by Gokhale, the Chief Minister said, “I don’t think the press should venture into this line and should not even push this thing. It is something very sad and very unproductive and meaningless. Are you going to ask me anytime if somebody from across the country challenges us. Are you going to ask me again and again.”
Giving a lesson to the media persons present, he said that the questions asked by the media should also be reasonable and that if they have no base they have no sense, they are meaningless.
The Chief Minister also said that the those asking for a debate and the media lapping such statements up they are wasting the time of the press, the media space and also the time of the press conference.
“Tomorrow there will be hundreds of people (to ask for a debate), from Gujarat, Bihar or Kerala. Is it in any way relevant, is it possible for a government or the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister to have debate with anybody who comes up on media or social media and say that I want to have a debate with you. It’s an unreasonable kind of a situation,” the Chief Minister said.
On the issue of the opposition alleging corruption by the government, Sangma said that it is their duty to do so but whatever they say they will have to come up with all the details.
The Chief Minister said that although allegations have to be made but the overall work that has been done and the results clearly reflect that a lot of change has taken place in the last four and half years.
He also said that one cannot stop criticism, but in general at large, people have seen the kind of work going on in different departments
Giving an account of the achievements of his government, he said that the state will be receiving a Presidential Award for performance in JJM on October 2 for being one of the best performing states in the country.
Sangma said that the state has received awards in tourism, for start-ups, for e-governance and also received awards for health department.
“I think that is the testimony and example of how Meghalaya government has been doing its work,” he said.
According to the Chief Minister the critics will say what they have to say here but if one looks at the independent critics and the government of India and other agencies which actually look into these aspect these have testified that there has been changes and improvement in the overall governance and improvements in Meghalaya.
Sangma said that while the government says the the government is performing well but everything is not perfect and that there are a lot of challenges.
“But to say that nothing is happening and there is mis-governance would be in correct,” the Chief Minister said.