Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The state president of the National People’s Youth Front (NPYF), Kitborlang Nongrem, has slammed the United Democratic Party (UDP) youth wing which had earlier expressed their displeasure at schemes granted by National People’s Party (NPP) prior to the Assembly election.
“It is a surprise that the UDP youth wing are coming out before the media at this time to question the NPP on the eve of elections to urge the people not to be misled by the government schemes. I feel that the UDP too is equally responsible for it,” Nongrem said.
The NPYF state president said that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government was formed after the 2018 polls with the NPP leading the government along with the UDP and other coalition partners.
He said that the leaders of the youth wing of the UDP or its parent body have never opposed the NPP these five years and are suddenly surfacing with these allegations during elections.
Nongrem also asked the public to be aware of the type of schemes they should accept.
“I too, like the UDP youth wing, urge the voters not to be lured by money during the assembly polls,” he said.
The state president of the NPYF while countering the statement of the UDP said that those joining the NPP have received money in return, said, “We have seen five MLAs joining the UDP on Wednesday. We can also allege that they too got Rs 10- 20 crore.”
He also said that after the 2018 polls, the UDP had proposed Conrad Sangma should lead the government, however, criticising the NPP prior to the elections is only to fool the people for political gain.
“The UDP will always play a supporting role in the government even in the next one too,” Nongrem said.
He also said that the Education Minister was from the UDP and during his tenure, the teachers were always on the street agitating.
“We have never seen the UDP youth wing coming out to resolve the issue of the teachers. But we the NPYF on several occasions have written to the chief minister to look into their issue and resolve them,” the state NPYF president said.
Nongrem also alleged that the Education Minister who is at the same time the Home Minister had ordered tear gassing of agitating Meghalaya Government Lower Primary School Contractual Teachers Association.