SHILLONG:
The national spokesperson of the Congress, Bobbeeta Sharma, on September 5, said that the National People’s Party (NPP) does not want a pre-poll tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since they have realised that the latter is creating disharmony in society.
However, Sharma said that she was also suspicious of the statement of the NPP national president, Conrad K Sangma, who recently said that after the elections parties may join forces, which showed the double-faced attitude of the NPP.
“That means to win elections we want the people’s votes. Just to make them believe that we are not with the BJP, but after you win the people’s trust you will again join them after the polls,” she said.
She said that people should realise some politicians exploit the voters’ sentiments for their own interests.
Sharma also said that the legislators who have left their party in Meghalaya are welcome if they want to come back to the party.
She said that the religious harmony that was there has been destroyed by the BJP.
“Religion should not enter the political space at all. This is something very personal but once it enters the political space it ruins the fabric of the country. It is not the government’s job to meddle in religious affairs,” she said.
She also said that the allies of the BJP in the state should pull out.
“I think they realise that people will not vote for them if they remain with the BJP,” Sharma said.
On party leaders leaving, the Congress spokesperson said that everybody has a choice to stay or go away from a party.
“We cannot force anybody to be with us or force them to leave. It must come from within, whether you believe in the ideologies of the Congress or not,” Sharma said.
According to the AICC spokesperson, there are many who have left the Congress because of their personal interests.
“We feel bad if they go because they have been with us for so long. But we cannot force them to stay with us. They must decide whether they want to be with us or some other parties who are breaking India and trying to create discord in the country,” she said.
Sharma said that the government’s role is to maintain law and order so that people can live peacefully.
“It’s not the government’s role to create discontent, discord and enmity among people. Is this the kind of government we want?” she asked.
Sharma also regretted that leaders who speak out of turn and who create enmity among people are not put behind bars.