SHILLONG:
Congress chief and Shillong MP Vincent H Pala has launched a scathing attack on the United Democratic Party (UDP) saying it is more corrupt than any other coalition partner of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government and is mainly responsible for spoiling the government’s image.
“The UDP cannot avoid taking the blame as they are equally corrupt or rather they are more corrupt than any other in the government,” Pala said.
His remarks came in the backdrop of allegations of corruption against the MDA government and the attempt by coalition partners to push the blame to the National People’s Party (NPP) alone.
Pala said that if the UDP gets portfolios like PWD and finance “they will sell everything and whatever chance they get they are looting”.
He pulled up the UDP for the prevailing corruption in the district council which is led by the party. “The way they have put up gates all along the highways…for checking illegal trading of forest produce, farmers produce and different items.”
He also picked holes in the law and order front citing the easy availability of drugs and liquor even late at night. “You should be aware that in Meghalaya, 42 per cent (of the population) is single mothers and more than 46 per cent of girls below 20 years have got married,” he said blaming it on poverty. “Now who holds these portfolios – Home is being held by the UDP as is liquor (excise),” he said.
He said that UDP has gone against the wishes of many local dorbar when it comes to setting up of wine stores by “ensuring liquor is served right at the doorsteps of people”
Pala further alleged rampant selling of revenue land and said, “You go down to the NPP office, that land belongs to the government but you will see there is new fencing and all these portfolios are being held by the UDP.”
He said that the UDP is mainly responsible for spoiling the government’s image as well as the state’s assets. “If you look in terms of destroying the government’s assets, if you look in terms of destroying the law and order, the UDP is equally or rather more responsible than the NPP…They spoiled the culture in the district council, they spoiled the revenue land as they have allotted it to different people.”
“If you see education, it is being held by the UDP and see how the institutions have been spoiled in Meghalaya. The UDP is making Meghalaya a gambling state rather than an educational hub,” he said.