Don’t speak against our MLAs because the more you speak against them, the more they increase; from 33 NPP MLAs, we reached 36.
–Sniawbhalang Dhar
Shillong, Oct 23: Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice president Sniawbhalang Dhar has slammed the opposition parties, including the Voice of the People Party (VPP), for the latter’s “attacks” on the government.
“Don’t speak against our MLAs because the more you speak against them, the more they increase; from 33 NPP MLAs, we reached 36,” Dhar said while addressing an election meeting favoured by NPP’s candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha bye-lection, Dr DRL Nonglait, at Mihmyntdu in Jowai constituency.
“This is the trust in the leaders of our state,” he said, while explaining the numbers: “We won 26; we increased with the merger of PDF MLAs; we reached 28; Congress joined; we reached 31; we won the bye-election; we reached 33 and again 3 UDP MLAs joined; we reached 36.”
“This is the performance of the NPP-led government under the leadership of chief minister Conrad K Sangma,” Dhar said.
He branded opposition leaders as jobless and immature, saying, “In our Pnar language, we call them jobless people. An empty vessel makes a lot of noise.”
“When matric results are bad, they blame the government… When we brought out the CM Guidebook and all the children passed, there too they find fault. If you don’t understand what you are talking, you are not fit to be leaders of the state of Meghalaya,” he said.
Without naming parties, he hit out at false poll promises: “How they promised during elections that if they win they will give jobs to the youth, but once they won they instead chased away people who had worked for more than 10 years in the district council… they also said that if they win, they will uproot all the gates… but once they win as it is now, from 15-16 gates earlier, now the number of these gates has increased to more than 30.”
“It is easy to talk but to implement it is not easy. Those who are not in power can talk as they wish but if you get power, you won’t even know where to sign,” he said.
On development and opposition to projects, he said, “This government does not focus only on the road sector but also focuses on the tourism sector… Many friends who are in Khasi Hills, whatever projects come they oppose, I have already said we will take all these projects that they oppose to Jaintia Hills. If a hotel comes, they oppose; if a ropeway comes, they oppose… If we work, you complain; if we don’t work also, you complain.”
“A government that is not criticized is a government that is sleeping during the day,” he added.
Hitting out at VPP’s protest politics, he said, “When the VPP incites the public to surround the secretariat with lakhs… one mother, when the media asked why did you come, she said ‘we came for the ten points’ but when asked what are those points, she said ‘I don’t know’… the public is innocent… when someone calls them they just go but they don’t think about why they are going.”
He added that the NPP-led government under Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will continue to deliver, saying, “I never take a right decision, I take a decision and I make it right. The development that has come in our state is tremendous.”
‘Need an MP from ruling side’
Pitching for 60-year-old academician Dr DRL Nonglait as an experienced hand who can push Meghalaya’s cause in Parliament, Dhar said the Shillong bye-election is about ensuring a ruling MP for the public good.
“To come and contest elections at the age of 60 is not easy but… we need such experienced people who can pull together the rope to push inside Parliament,” Dhar said.
He said, “I know Dr DRL Nonglait very well… He is not yet a politician but… Around 88-90 colleges are under him. He should have retired but he is willing to lose sleep for the public.”
Making a case for a ruling party MP, he said, “We need an MP from the ruling side, if we get an MP from the opposition, when we work he will oppose and when he works we will oppose, who will suffer, you the public.”
Dhar said the NPP-led government has development projects worth Rs 20,000 crore under process in New Shillong alone under his watch as Urban Minister, and Rs 500 crore worth of projects were launched in East Jaintia in recent days, including Rs 400 crore in Santa Mary Shylla’s constituency and Rs 80 crore in Kyrmen Shylla’s constituency.
He announced that the 166-km Lad Umroi to Ratacherra greenfield project worth Rs 21,700 crore will be implemented soon, with 80% falling in Jaintia Hills.
“I thank the people of Jaintia Hills because we are always welcoming to development,” he said, adding that the presentation shown was only a glimpse of West Jaintia Hills.
The rally was attended by Health Minister and Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla and other MLAs, MDCs and party workers.
