Congress chief and sitting Shillong MP Vincent H Pala on Tuesday said that BJP will not win more than 200 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He alleged that if the BJP gets 370 seats, they will change the Indian Constitution by removing the word ‘secularism’ to make its dream of a Hindu state come true.
Speaking to media persons after filing nomination for seeking re-election, Pala said, “As on today, they (BJP) have not declared the fourth list. Why? Because of lots of infightings. So the question of winning more than 200 seats is a big question for them as they don’t even have candidates in states like Meghalaya and NE. How can you expect them to win? It is only propaganda to fool the people.”
He said that the BJP got 303 MPs last time and this time BJP will be down in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, UP, Himachal Pradesh and in many other states. He said, “In the South, more than 130 MPs and this time, the Congress will get maximum seats (from the South.”
Stating that BJP’s projection of 400 seats is a slogan to signal the people of India, Pala said, “We have 540 MPs. To change the Constitution of India, the BJP needs 362 so at the most 370, that’s why they announce 370. What do you mean by 370, 370 they signal they warn the people of India if we get 370, they will change the Constitution? The word secularism from the Constitution will be removed.
If the word ‘secularism’ from the Constitution will be removed then it will be like Pakistan. Pakistan is an Islamic state, Bangladesh is Islamic state, Iran is Islamic state, so we will be like Pakistan, anybody who worships other religions will become illegal. That is the intention and slogan of 370-400. It is not what they will get. They know that they are not going to get but they just want to polarise things, they are going to do this, they are going to make India as a Hindu state, that is the dream of the BJP.”
“I am sure many of you are Hindus, many of our friends are Hindus but we want a peaceful country, we want a country free from all suppression, we want a country free from all the problems faced like Pakistan, Bangladesh and others,” he addied.
Alleging that the infighting in the BJP will be very high this time, Pala said, “They are desperate this time. You see most of the senior MPs, they cut their tickets and most MLAs also they didn’t give them the chance
If you see in Maharashtra, if you see in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, you see the senior leaders were thrown out, they put up new leaders.”
Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pala said, “Another very important thing which is very silent, you know if we build a church, a father or any priest will sanctify it but now PM of India just to polarise Ram Mandir instead of other sadhus, instead of them doing their job so the politicians have to do their job. So the gap between the Hindus, the gap between the BJP and those people…and all who have to do the job becomes wider. The BJP from a religious point of view, they have made a mistake, from a political point of view they have made a mistake – so no way that they will even get 200 seats.”
Expressing confidence to retain the Shillong seat, Pala highlighted the various achievements of the Congress during the past 15 years. He however said there is lots that needs to be done especially Meghalaya needs a new airport.
“(Further), Congress has done well in terms of education, in terms of connectivity, in terms of trade and business and in terms of equitable distribution of wealth. So the policy which the Congress has taken before and the policy which the present government has taken is totally different.
If you the policy taken by the present government for those who are rich, they will become richer and poor will become poorer but Congress will try to see the gap between the rich and the poor will be minimized and also the freedom of speech, religion, the Congress has given more on those issues.
Lots of things Congress has done but many things to be done,” he said.
He also admitted that the anti-incumbency against him is high after winning 3 times and said, “but people will compare what other MPs used to do and what I have done.”
“I am the only MP, who has been shaken by the BJP and other MPs be it in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, many have gone why because they have been lured or threatened, they have put ED after me, IT after me but I trust and love the people of Meghalaya, I know I am here because of the people with that in mind, the people will trust and vote for me,” he said.
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