Tynsong urges people to vote for NPP as it has ensured CAA exemption to Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 12, 2024

National People’s Party (NPP) state president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong has urged the people to vote for the party, which has ensured sixth scheduled areas in Meghalaya are exempted from the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

“Why we urge the people to support our candidates because we have been able to ensure sixth scheduled areas in the state are exempted from CAA,” Tynsong said while addressing an election campaign at Iawpynsin, Wahiajer under Nartiang constituency in West Jaintia Hills on Thursday.

He also urged the people to reject negative narratives against the NPP. “People cannot blame NPP in terms of development but the only thing they get to somehow blame us is that BJP and NPP are the same,” he said.  

Tynsong recalled that when the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was introduced by the BJP in parliament, all political parties, NGOs and the people were against it.

“In 2019, it was Conrad K Sangma as chief minister, who convened a meeting of all political parties from Meghalaya and other states of the North East where it was unanimously decided that Conrad will seek appointment with the Prime Minister and union home minister in Delhi. Accordingly, we met the PM and union home minister and submitted a memorandum (against CAB),” he said.

“On coming back from Delhi, we again met in Meghalaya and decided that the CM should again seek appointment with the PM and Union HM. Accordingly, we again met the union home minister before CAB was passed in parliament. At this time, the union minister assured us that CAB will be exempted in Meghalaya,” he added.

Tynsong also made it clear that the NPP MP from Tura Agatha Sangma had supported the CAB on the ground that the government of India had agreed to exempt Meghalaya, which is having three autonomous district councils.

“Unfortunately, people are condemning her (Agatha) and saying that BJP is NPP and NPP is BJP but I will tell you it is not true but of course we are together in the NDA government at the centre,” he said.