SHILLONG:
Launching a scathing attack at the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Vincent H Pala, on July 25 said that all the coalition partners in the alliance “lack” principles.
Citing it to be a key factor behind the alleged rising infighting among the MDA partners, Pala also said that not just the legislators in the ruling dispensation, but even the member of district councils of the coalition partners lack values.
“In this coalition government we are seeing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) going after the United Democratic Party (UDP) and vice-versa; the National People’s party (NPP) targeting another partner. In short, they are all after each other. Why? Because they do not have principles – be it the parties, MLAs or the MDCs,” Pala said, adding that sometimes, it looks funny from afar.
Training guns at the NPP for not taking action against BJP, member of district council (MDC) in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Bernard Marak, despite knowing what was going on in the latter’s farmhouse, Pala said that the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma-led party was “scared” since the BJP is ruling at the Centre.
“The NPP knew about the incident but waited for the United Democratic Party (UDP) to act first. The NPP is scared (to take action) since the BJP is in power (in the Centre),” said the Shillong MP. Notably, the Home department is under Lahkmen Rymbui, who is a leader of the UDP.
Stating that infighting among the MDA partners is poised to flare up in the coming months, the veteran Congressman said that now, it is the saffron party’s turn to hit back at the NPP and UDP. “All they are now thinking is to fight against each other in the run-up to the election. I think only the Congress is thinking about the citizens,” said the MPCC chief.
He also lashed out at the MDA government for not thinking about the teachers and health workers who have up in arms demanding their due for some time.