BJP leader urges NGOs to review stand against railways
Shillong, Sept 17: Newly inducted cabinet minister and BJP leader Sanbor Shullai has said the demand for ILP in Meghalaya might see the “light of the day”, if BJP is brought to power in the state, even as he urged the pressure groups to review their stand against railway link in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
“Hopefully one day all these things (ILP) will happen, especially I appeal to the people of the Meghalaya why not give a chance to the BJP and give us 31 MLAs… Let us form the government for five years, then you will see the light of the day,” Shullai told reporters on Wednesday while replying to a query on his stand on ILP.
However, pointing out that ILP is a Central subject, he said, “Whenever I go to Delhi, I used to remind the ministers and leaders in Delhi but it is not in our hand.”
Revealing that the BJP has been actively campaigning and meeting with potential candidates across the state, he said the party might win 8-10 seats in the next election.
Asked, Shullai said BJP is in touch with sitting MLAs from other parties and hopes to attract many of them to the party.
Further, he claimed that people of Meghalaya have started accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi based on his works through the various developmental schemes and initiatives implemented by the Central government.
He cited examples such as free ration, vaccines, and financial support to farmers, which have positively impacted people’s lives.
Responding to allegations that the BJP is anti-Christian and anti-beef, he said these claims are unfounded and are election propaganda of the opposition parties.
Recollecting TH Rangad’s election from BJP, he said, “I remember TH Rangad when he contested from BJP. The opposition alleged that Rangad and BJP will come and lock the churches and ban beef… When I joined the BJP after quitting the NCP, they alleged the same thing against me, but tell me whether all these are happening in my constituency.”
Claiming that people are happy that he joined the BJP, he said, “People of my constituency are very clever and wise to elect me from the BJP so that I address their grievances and problems directly at the door of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.”
Meanwhile, Shullai urged stakeholders including pressure groups to reconsider their stance on the railway line project to enable goods trains to reach Byrnihat.
“Hopefully in our state also under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma, we will discuss and convince and enlighten the NGOs…,” he said.
Referring to how Garo Hills region and other northeastern states like Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh have benefited from railway connectivity, he said, “Here also the NGOs and stakeholders… we should accept the railway tracks to ensure at least the goods train should come up to Byrnihat.”
