SHILLONG:
The Congress, on February 1, hit back at Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for his comment that there was no development in Meghalaya in the past 45 years, by reminding him that his father, late Purno A Sangma, was part and parcel of the Congress before he formed the National People’s Party (NPP).
Addressing the press in Shillong, All India Congress Committee (AICC) media coordinator Bobbeeta Sharma said the chief minister is questioning his own father’s role in the development of Meghalaya in the past 45 years.
“Does he (CM) mean to say that his father, Purno A Sangma, who was an MP and a minister in the union ministry for many terms, did nothing for Meghalaya?” Sharma asked.
“I want to tell Conrad that when you speak, please speak thoughtfully. You are the chief minister,” she added.
Sangma had on January 31 claimed that his government helped Meghalaya overcome over 45 years of underdevelopment, especially in the Garo Hills.
Sharma further said that Meghalaya got statehood because of the Congress, adding that it is a party with a vision that helped fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people of the state.
“He (Conrad) got the opportunity to serve as the chief minister because of the Congress. But what he is doing right now is give credit and importance to corruption in his government,” she said.
Calling Sangma a chief minister who protects the corrupt, Sharma picked on Ransom Sutnga, the NPP candidate from North Shillong, and Ampareen Lyngdoh, an NPP candidate from East Shillong, who were both accused of indulging in malpractices in the construction of the Assembly building in Mawdiangdiang and in the education department, respectively.
“The engineer (Ransom Sutnga) accused of being involved in the collapse of the Assembly building was given an NPP ticket. Our former colleague, Ampareen Lyngdoh, who was under a CBI scanner, joined the NPP to get some protection. This government protects the corrupt,” Sharma said.
Asserting that development in the state did not happen in one day, Sharma said, “Mr chief minister, please go and see the developmental works and see how Meghalaya and Shillong are known across the world for tourism. All this did not happen in one day.”
Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) next, the AICC leader said the fact that the BJP is helping the NPP only proves that both parties are “giving protection to the corrupt and are lying to the people of Meghalaya”.