BJP accuses Mukul of shying away from public debate

From a correspondent

Shillong, Nov 6: The BJP took potshots at Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, accusing him of shying away from a public debate on corruption.

“The Chief Minister is shying away from a public debate. As a political leader, one has to be fearless and bold like a lion,” BJP’s Scheduled Tribe Morcha leader Hayithung Bill Lotha said while addressing media persons at the party’s office here on Monday.

According to Lotha, corruption is eating away the society like a “termite”. He said if Sangma cares for the society in true sense, he should accept the challenge for a public debate.

The BJP leader also said: “If Sangma does not accept the challenge for a public debate on corruption, then he should resign from the post of Chief Minister.”

On being asked to comment on Sangma’s recent statement that the BJP was insignificant in Meghalaya, Lotha said the saffron party is  gaining strength day by day in the State and predicted that it will come to power after the election in 2018.

He also said that the Chief Minister was making a “great political error” by giving such a statement.

Lotha also alleged that Meghalaya is being “maged” by Sangma, his brother Zenith Sangma and his wife Dikkanchi D Shira. “There is total dysty politics in Meghalaya. They are looting the entire State’s resources,” Lotha alleged.

The BJP leader also said that the party cares for minority rights and their welfare.

Recently, All India Congress Committee’s minority cell observer Rejaul Karim Laskar had challenged Lotha to a debate on the policies formulated by the BJP and Congress for the minorities.

However, Lotha alleged that the Congress was deflecting the issue of corruption by challenging him for debate regarding the policies of BJP for tribals and minorities.