Shillong, July 10: Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai on Friday criticised the Voice of the People Party (VPP) for opposing Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s visit to Jowai for the Behdeinkhlam festival, describing the protest as “embarrassing” and unnecessary.
Sarma attended the festival on Thursday as chief guest following an invitation from Seinraij, Jowai. Shullai, the Deputy Chief Minister and local legislators were also present.
“Yes, we feel so embarrassed that the Prah party (VPP) have oppose the visit of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as chief guest to witness the great festival of the pnar community, the Behdeinkhlam yesterday, I was also with him,” Shullai said.
He rejected attempts to link Sarma’s visit to the unresolved interstate boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam.
“I feel so funny that they alleged that Himanta Biswa Sarma should solve the boundary issue… which is not connected with the border issue,” he said.
Shullai said individuals, pressure groups and political parties were free to raise concerns over the boundary issue, but maintained that a protest against Sarma’s participation in a cultural festival was inappropriate.
“Everybody, individuals, NGOs or political parties have every right to raise any issues… but they should not protest his visit to the festival as chief guest, it is not connected with the border issue,” he said.
“The border issue, there is a committee constituted by the government. If there are any suggestions or any protest in writing, they can go to the government or the said committee,” he added.
Shullai further said the VPP’s statements on the visit were unacceptable to the people of the state.
“All these things I want to say we feel so funny that the political party like the Prah has given all these statements, which is not accepted by the people of the state,” he said.
