Congress observes ‘betrayal day’

A Correspondent

Shillong, May 26: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Saturday observed “betrayal day” on the fourth anniversary of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government in the Centre.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion at the Congress Bhavan in the city, MPCC chief, Celestine Lyngdoh blamed the BJP Government at the Centre for the rise in fuel prices.

According to the MPCC president, the hike in the price of diesel will affect the common man directly since in Meghalaya essential commodities are transported by trucks. “When the (Congress led) UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government was ruling the country the international price of crude oil was $ 91 to $ 95 per barrel, but our government contained the prices of fuel below Rs 70,” Lyngdoh said.

The MPCC chief pointed out that during the current regime of the BJP, in 2017, the price of crude oil was below $ 42 even as he questioned the reason behind the spiraling cost of fuel in the country.

With many states ruled by the BJP and its allies, Lyngdoh also asked why excise duties can’t be brought down.

The MPCC chief also alleged that in the past four years there were atrocities against minorities under the BJP. Lyngdoh pointed out that the recent incident in Madhya Pradesh wherein candidates from the SC/ST had the chest marked to identify that they were from the reserved category is an example of how BJP is persecuting the Dalits.