Shillong, Mar 6: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma has termed “wrong and immature” VPP leader Ardent M Basaiawmoit’s suggestion that Centre may ask the state government to repay its loans in the form of uranium mining.
“It’s never going to happen… This kind of hypothetical scenario creating and confusing the people are not the right way to move forward,” the chief minister said in response to Basaiawmoit’s remark.
The chief of The Voice of People’s Party (VPP), which recently created a flutter in state politics by storming to power in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), had lamented about the state’s loan burden and the government’s alleged pro-uranium mining stand while participating in the debate on Governor’s Address.
“One, the way the finances have been worked out, I repeat the government of India is very particular in the norms that were put up and we follow the norms very strictly. Therefore, the question of us being in that position number one doesn’t arise. Two, even if the situation in whatever the wildest imagination were to happen, that situation would never happen where the government would say that,” Sangma said.
Criticising Basaiawmoit for giving an example of a country like Ukraine and the US to describe a state scenario, he said, “That is very wrong and an immature way to look at things. Be practical as there is a practical way.”
Stating that the government is always ready to clarify on the loan aspect, Sangma said, “If they (VPP) have a problem with the loan aspect and all we can clarify. We have clarified 100 times, we will clarify again to them like I have been mentioning to everybody about the externally aided projects (EAPs) as to how we will pay them back and why we are taking so much. Again today in the budget, I have informed that 90 percent is paid by the government of India.”
“Therefore, there is no issue with loan or no issue with the aspect of debt and that scenario which he is mentioning is never going to happen,” he stated further.
