BJP accuse Cong of link with militants

SHILLONG, FEB 13: The BJP has accused Congress of having a nexus with different militant outfits in the Garo hills and using them for its electoral benefits even as the Congress has dismissed the allegations a gimmick to attract media attention.

Former BJP Lok Sabha MP and election-in- charge of Meghalaya Khiren Rijeju  told reporters on Wednesday at Hotel Polo Tower, “The militant groups is helping the Congress party in pocket areas in Garo hills region,”  He said this was reported to him by the party workers in Garo hills.

Buttering his allegation Rijeju  said if the Congress was not having a nexus with militants how can these militants exist so actively which, he says,  indicate many things and questions need to be raised.

Reacting sharply to the allegations, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik said as the BJP has got no stake in the forthcoming Meghalaya assembly elections its accusation against the Congress of having militants link is just to draw media attention and should not be taken seriously.

Earlier addressing a news conference  Rijeju described the Congress government as a “fountain head” of rampant corruption. He also pooh-poohed the Congress claims that it would emerge as the single largest party saying that Meghalaya will once again see a “hung assembly.”

Releasing the BJP manifesto at Hotel Polo Tower, Rijeju said that as the Congress governments were ruling Meghalaya for many years the party must explain the failure of the state in many fronts including controlling corruption.

While describing the Congress as the fountain head of corruption he said, “This is reflected in its failure to act on the CBI findings pertaining to the illegal appointment of teachers in the state as the same people who are running the government is also involved in the scam.”

Rijeju said Meghalaya will once again get a ‘hung-assembly’ despite the claim of Congress and its ally-UDP- in the coalition government that they will emerge as the single largest party to form the next government.

Rijeju, however, sees an important role for the BJP either as a coalition partner of member of the opposition. Appealing to the state electorates to vote for the BJP, he promised to support a government that is  efficient, sound and also have zero tolerance to corruption.

Taking a dig at its arch political rival Congress, Rijeju said instead of promises made in the Congress manifesto the party has to give a lot of explanation to the people of what it was doing in fulfilling its obligations towards the people as it was heading the last government.

Rijeju lamented that despite being rich in resources Meghalaya is still a power deficit state. He said, “Congress ruled the state for many years but Meghalaya is still a power deficit state which is quite unfortunate considering that the state has so much coal and hydro potentialities.” Rijeju said Meghalaya lack a people-friendly-government and euphemism for the Congress government which he said  must answer to all the failures.

Rijeju also ridicule the Congress for promising two additional LPG cylinders at a subsidized rate as he said that it is the Congress government at the centre who is responsible for the inflation making the life of not only the poor but even middle level Indian families difficult.

Rijeju blamed the Congress led UPA government for the LPG crisis saying that the pinch was felt by consumers since the Congress took over the rein of power at the center. He said the LPG crisis is unwarranted because India’s gas production capacity is high. He, however, promise that the BJP if voted to power at the center will ensure that LPG is made available at a cheaper rate to all the consumers.

Rijeju said, “We cannot expect good governance from the Congress.”

In Meghalaya, the BJP share of assembly seat has decline over the years. In 1998 the party had got three seats, which came down to two seats in 2003 and in 2008 it bagged only one seat.

Rijeju, however is hopeful of getting a better vote share and also the number of assembly seats in this elections, saying that there the party has been well received in the Garo hills.

For the 2013 elections the BJP is fielding thirteen candidates out of the  60 assembly seats in Meghalaya.- By Our Reporter