BJP-Congress can never work together: Mawrie

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 18, 2020

BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie on Friday said the saffron party and the opposition Congress can never work together.

“Just like a tiger and a deer cannot drink water from the same river so the BJP and the Congress cannot work together, it is as simple as that,” Mawrie told reporters.

He was reacting to a recent letter submitted by the Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma to Governor, Satya Pal Malik, demanding an independent inquiry over the alleged misappropriation and siphoning-off of funds by Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) meant for development of tribal areas.

The demand for an independent inquiry was significant in the wake of the BJP, which is a junior partner in the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has demanded for a CBI probe into the matter.

Refusing to comment further, Mawrie said, “We as BJP have our own stand and the Congress has its own stand.”

He said the BJP has exposed the corruption in the implementation of the central special assistance grants by the two autonomous district councils (ADCs) – GHADC and JHADC, based on evidence.

“We want the people to know that a huge amount of funds have been sanctioned to these ADCs but sadly they have misused the same,” he said.

Asked, Mawrie expressed confidence that the Centre would soon institute a CBI inquiry to probe into the corruption allegations against the two ADCs.

“We have already submitted all information to the Niti Aayog, ministry of finance and CBI headquarters and I feel that the time is not far away for the CBI to probe into the matter,” he said.

The state president also informed that the Niti Aayog in its order issued on September 9, had suggested the need to stop releasing of funds to the GHADC. “I hope that a similar order will also be issued to the JHADC,” he said.

According to him, both the ADCs have violated the guidelines of the Niti Aayog in the implementation of the multi-crore SAG funds.

To another query, Mawrie said the CBI can conduct a probe into the matter as the SAG funds are being sanctioned by the Centre government.

Whether the issue will affect the MDA government, the BJP leader however said the party is a coalition partner at the state but is not part of the ruling coalition in the ADCs.

“However, the party will also oppose any kind of corrupt practices in the state government as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state president has also categorically denied the allegations that the SAG issue was an election agenda of the BJP ahead of the upcoming GHADC elections.

“There is no election in JHADC. The corruptions in both these ADCs are similar and are related to SAG funds. Therefore, the party will continue to fight against corruption,” he added.