Meghalaya: Mukul launches scathing attack on Centre, State government

TNT Bureau

By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, Sep 24, 2018:

Taking a dig at the Centre for "holding developmental funds" meant for the State, Opposition Leader, Dr Mukul Sangma said that the attitude of the Government of India is to "retain the money" which is the entitlement of the people of the State.

Taking part in the special motion on a discussion on the "overall development of the state and the need to seek more financial assistance from the centre, and also to earmark a Budget provision for all the eleven Districts in the state" initiated by PT Sawkmie, the Congress MLA from Mawlai, Dr Mukul, who is also a Congress leader, said that the attitude of the Centre is "unacceptable" adding that it also proved without reasonable doubt that such funds are being diverted for something else.

Giving a word of advice to the National People's Party (NPP) led-Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, the leader of Opposition cautioned the state government of the technique and "maneuver that the leadership in Delhi is taking".

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He also said that since the centre has adopted the 50:50 pattern of funding for developmental projects it cannot dictate the state government anymore.

According to Dr Sangma, by doing so it will dilute the spirit of federal structure of the country.

The opposition leader also took exception to a circular by the centre prohibiting illegal animal sacrifices on and before Bakrid.

Stating that such a circular was an "act of provocation", Dr Sangma said, "If similar notifications were given during Christmas and New Year's what will happen?"

He also criticized the NPP-led coalition government in the state for playing politics with developmental agendas.

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Mocking the state government, Dr Sangma said that when the Congress was in power it never asked any MLAs to resign before upgrading an area into a Block or a Civil Sub-Division or a District.

Indirectly referring to the case of then Ranikor Congress MLA, Martin M Danggo who quit the party and his seat to seek re-election from the NPP, Dr Sangma said "We never asked Witting Mawsor (of the HSPDP) to resign when we upgraded Mawshynrut from a Block to a Civil Sub-Division."

According to him, sanctioning of such demands was in tune with the demands of the times.

The leader of Opposition also disapproved of the frequent transfers of officials allegedly being made by the ruling dispensation in the state.

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