SHILLONG, APR 7: Exhorting the electorates of the Khasi and Jaintia hills not to be swayed either by “money power” or by misuse of “religion” by other candidates, United Democratic Party (UDP) Shillong Lok Sabha candidate Paul Lyngdoh said that his party truly stands for the identity of the indigenous tribal which is clearly reflected in the UDP manifesto.
Addressing an election rally on the last day of campaigning for the April 9 Lok Sabha election in Meghalaya at Motphran parking lots on Monday, Lyngdoh requested the electorates that falls under the Shillong parliamentary seat to reject political parties and candidates who depends either on “money power” or “religion” to win elections.
Lyngdoh informed the election gathering, that braved rains to listen to what he had to say, that the “identity of the UDP is the identity of the indigenous tribal and their land” as its manifesto clearly speaks clearly about party’s ideologies and principles.
Attacking other political parties and their candidates, Lyngdoh said instead of bringing a clear manifesto before the people the other parties have brought ‘money-festo’ and ‘mane-festo’ or ‘worship-festo’.” He urged,“People should not be misled by those who have come in the name of religion or those misusing the religion.”
Even as he implored that the identity of the people and the land should come first, Lyngdoh, said, “I come from the Presbyterian Church and my grandfather was a Catholic by religion, but if people questioned my identity, I will tell them that I am a Khasi, the son of the Hynniewtrep land.”
Attacking Independent candidate PBM Basaiawmoit, a former reverend of the Presbyterian Church, Lyngdoh questioned,” If he (Basaiawmoit) is being sent by God, will he still need to campaign or need the money sponsored by Congress sitting MLA from Umroi Ngaitlang Dhar?”
Lyngdoh said he pity Basaiawmoit who is caught in between because on his right side he has people (regional parties HSPDP & KHNAM) who says – ‘No Inner Line Permit (ILP), No rest’ while from his left side he has people (Congress) saying – ‘No ILP, come what may’.”
Taking a potshot at the Congress and its candidate Vincent Pala, Lyngdoh was of the opinion that the reason for the dissolution of the Congress block committee at Umroi is because its own party legislators were indulging in anti-party activities by supporting Basaiawmoit’s as even chief minister Mukul Sangma is totally against their own party candidate.
While saying that the infighting among the Congressmen forced AICC general secretary L Faleiro to intervene just one week before the elections, Lyngdoh said, “While I am prepared and already in the field getting ready for the battle with the blessings of my party, poor Pala before stepping into the field, he is already wounded as his own people from his home inflicted the wound.”
Stating many have misled about family relationship between him and Pala, Lyngdoh clarified, “I may have a family relationship with Pala through my marriage, but when in politics, can I say Pala is the in-laws of UDP, this is totally unacceptable. We have principles in our party.”
Rubbishing the claimed made by other political parties that if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes back to power at the centre, churches will be closed, Lyngdoh urged people to be wise and not to be misled. He reminded the election gathering about the failure of the Congress government in the state which he said is the reason for poverty and backwardness besides increasing unemployment problem and lack of economic growth.
Stating that politics is not a boxing ring, Lyngdoh said, “We need to work together to achieve our goals and the need of the hour is to have strong leadership.”
Informing that over 12 million Bangladeshi have infiltrated into the North East region including Meghalaya, Lyngdoh said, “Boundary issue will be the top most agenda of the party under the North East Regional Parties Forum (NERPF).”- By Our Reporter
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