For 35 years we trusted Cong and got nothing: Khandu

Biplab Kr Dey

TURA, June 15 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today lambasted the Congress party calling it anti-people while also stating that the North East had trusted the Congress for over 35 years and had got nothing in return. Khandu today addressed a meeting to celebrate three years of achievements of BJP-led NDA alliance at the Centre at Menadoba village in North Garo Hills (NGH). �We have lost generations of progress after trusting the Congress. For over 35 years they have been in charge and given nothing. The Congress motto has always been me first, party second and people last. This BJP-led Government has turned it around and that is why the North East is progressing now,� Khandu told the gathering. Citing the example of the Dhola Sadiya bridge, Khandu said, �The bridge was conceptualised by then PM, Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2003. However, when the BJP did not come to power, the Congress chose to sit on it for a decade of its rule. It was only in 2014 after the Narendra Modi-led Government came that money was re-sanctioned and work on the bridge started and completed in time,� added Khandu. The over 9-km bridge has cut down travel time for over one lakh Arunachal residents by about five hours. The CM also hit out against the hierarchical structure of the Congress stating it was the reason they had revolted. �There is accountability in BJP unlike Congress. In three years of the BJP-led Government there has only been development and no scams. This is unlike the Congress where you only had scams. The people of Garo Hills should vote for development and change. The NDA- led Government has accountability,� added the CM. On the issue of beef, the BJP leader stated, �Where is the ban? Please ask the Congress as to where a ban on beef consumption is mentioned. They have nothing else to talk of and so this non-issue has been made to look like the BJP Government is anti- Christian. If that was so why would Arunachal Pradesh (which is Christian dominated) keep silent?� �Where is the development that the Congress Government is talking of? You can understand development from the fact that the Dudhnoi PS is better than the NGH SP office. All they can talk of is beef ban when there is no ban. Has anyone present in this meeting not been able to eat beef,� asked NGH district president, Digross D Shira during his address. Former MLA, KC Boro further hit out at the Mukul Sangma-led government saying the Congress was on its last legs in the State. �The Congress is a 6 pm government (setting sun) now and we are the 6 am (rising sun). They had lost the mandate of the people after the last MP elections itself,� said Boro to the crowd gathered. The �Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas� programme in the village saw about 1,000 people attend the meeting. The meeting also introduced the party candidate for the constituency, Synal M Sangma in the presence of State president, Shibun Lyngdoh. The meeting was also attended by Dudhnoi MLA, Dipok Rabha and State vice president, Rikman Momin.