Meghalaya | If you're not comfortable, you are free to leave MDA: Dy CM tells BJP

SHILLONG:

All is not well in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) given the "strained" relationship between the National People's Party (NPP) and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It may be mentioned that the State BJP has been "aggressively" attacking the NPP-led government over the alleged illegal transportation of coal and misappropriation of funds in the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).

“If you (BJP) are not comfortable, you are free to leave the MDA government. That is the easiest way out. Don’t keep criticizing and at the same time, work with the MDA,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said while reacting to a query during a press briefing in Shillong on Friday,

Lashing out at the Meghalaya BJP, Tynsong said that the party leadership in the State is making several allegations against the government on the misappropriation of funds in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and also on the illegal transportation of coal "without providing any facts or evidence".

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Replying to a query on whether there is a hidden agenda on the part of the BJP for raising these issues, Tynsong replied in the negative.

The BJP was not the only party that had raised the issue of alleged illegal transportation of coal as the People's Democratic Front (PDF) had also expressed its concerns over the issue.

Reacting to this, the Dy. CM said he appreciates the concern shown by the leaders of the PDF as they were not quick to lay blame but had requested to initiate a discussion and also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, in this regard.

“So if you talk about PDF, they acted responsibly by taking up the issue with the CM but as far as the BJP state leadership is concerned, they keep talking to the press. We have a forum, a proper platform," Tynsong said.

"Allegations can be made but if you are responsible then they (you) should come up with facts and documents. The platform of going to the press is not a solution. The MDA government want to inform citizens that from day one when we took over, we are committed to erasing in totality, if there are any illegalities,” Tynsong, who is also an NPP leader, added.

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