Congress chief alleges COVID camps becoming “ATMs” for NPP, UDP in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 20, 2021

Opposition Congress chief Vincent H Pala on Wednesday alleged that the camps set up for screening people of COVID-19 have been turned into “ATMs” of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and its main ally, the United Democratic Party (UDP). 

“All those COVID camps which used to check people now have become ATMs of the UDP and the NPP,” Pala told reporters.

“If you go from Shillong to Jowai,  you will see lots of small gates, police check gates, forest check gates – all those are ATMs for them to spend during the elections,” he further alleged.

Pala also claimed despite people used to say that Congress is corrupt but for the last three and a half years or four years, “not a single scandal” was there when the Congress was in power. 

“But today you see (corruption everywhere) be it in the roadside, be in the offices…,” he added.

Stating that there is a lot of difference between the Congress time and the present Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, Pala said the people will definitely compare and such issues will be taken up during the election campaigns for the upcoming bye-elections to the three Assembly seats – Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala. 

The Shillong MP further claimed that the Congress was doing very well in term of law and order as everything was under control but “today the lawlessness is happening everywhere”.

Pala said the party would also take up issues related to the plight of the farmers especially during COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mawsynram MLA HM Shangpliang is taking very strongly the issue of the farmers. We have divided our works among different leaders. Therefore, there is a lot of difference between the Congress time and the present government,” he stated. 

Also stating that the people of the state are fed up with the NPP-led government, the MPCC chief said, “I went to so many places and people are saying that they are fed up with the present government. (They say) we are with the Congress but the Congress have to only give us good leaders and have to reach to us. Definitely, we don’t need money or favour but we want to see we can win the election.”

He concluded by saying, “We are inspired by the public…that is why I said we are confident that we will win the election.”