Congress accuses BJP-NPP of ‘match-fixing’

SHILLONG, FEB 15: Congress senior leader and deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma today alleged that there is a “match-fixing” between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National People’s Party (NPP) for the coming elections in the state.

“The BJP is a non-serious participant because their shadows are contesting. What we are seeing here is match-fixing between the BJP and the NPP and the United Democratic Party (UDP) is a side player,” Sharma told journalists here on Thursday.

Stating that even if there are denials by the NPP national president Conrad Sangma, the UDP and BJP that they are contesting separately, he said, “I will say they have not mastered the art of double speak to that extent that they can befool the people because they are part of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).”

According to him, if anybody is trying to tell the voters of Meghalaya that being part of NEDA has no connection with the BJP it is an insult to the wisdom of the voters.

“So I accused them (NPP-UDP) of misleading of double speak and not having the courage and conviction to say that yes they are partners in a plot to somehow capture power in the state of Meghalaya,” Sharma said.

The former Union Minister also accused the BJP of funding its ally, the National Peoples’ Party and also the United Democratic Party .

“These partners are also generously funded by the BJP and I say it with full sense of responsibility that you can check what their sources of funding are… and they are getting ample funding from the BJP,” he said.

Also accusing that the BJP’s modus operandi is to poach on MLAs of other political parties, he said ever since the BJP ventures into the North East region, they are trying to breaking political parties.

“Though they don’t have any base here, they poach MLAs of other parties including neighbouring state of Assam. If go by the old BJP’s chargesheet the person they targeted the most now is their best man for NE Himanta Biswa Sharma,” he said.

Accusing the BJP of forming the government in Manipur by cheating, Sharma said that the saffron party did not get MLAs (to form the government) and constitutionally it was the right of the Congress to form the government in Manipur.

“They are repeat offenders but these kinds of practices and cheating the mandate it will not be acceptable by the people,” he said.

Alleging that while Prime Minister is fighting against black money his party pockets it all , Anand said, “His party is getting all the black money… when they have not done anything for the people of India nationally but every state every district they have bought lands and constructed huge buildings. They can because they have resources.”

Appealing to people of Meghalaya, Sharma said he would like to convey to the voters of the state to be aware of the sinister plot and not to be misled by those who are claiming that they will be able to accelerate development with the support of the Center because that is not going to happen.

Asserting that elections are fought based on ideologies, the party leader said that the Congress has always gone to the people on the strength of its conviction, ideals, ideologies, inclusive, secular, liberal and embarrassing the diversity of the society and India itself.

Exuding confidence that the Congress will retain the seat of power in Meghalaya, he said the wisdom of the voters will be to see through them and reject them and punish those who have either hop on to the BJP or some others only for political opportunism.

By Our Reporter