Not willing to go for seat sharing as part of the understanding under the INDIA Bloc alliance, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee President Vincent H Pala has urged the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to put up candidates in both Shillong and Tura seats.
Informing this, Mathew Antony, National Spokesperson of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and National Media Coordinator, said “Pala is in discussion with the concerned leaders of AICC in Delhi and he stands by that.”
While Saleng Sangma is set to be Tura’s candidate for Congress, the TMC is looking to field Zenith Sangma in Tura, according to sources.
Expressing confidence that Congress will be able to clinch both Shillong and Tura seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the AICC leader said Meghalaya has got two seats, and the Congress has asked people to think with an open mind.
“In the coming elections, Meghalaya has got two seats, we ask people to think with an open mind and never fall for any jingoism,” he added.
Asked about the disunity of INDIA Bloc, Anthony said the opposition alliance will continue. The speculation about the seat sharing between Congress and TMC for Tura seat cannot be ruled out as the discussion is still on at the National level.
Asked about the mass exodus of Congress leaders who are joining BJP in large numbers, he alleged, “BJP has become an alumni party of Congress leaders; it also shows that BJP is lacking talents. Most of the Chief Ministers and the central Ministers are from the Congress. They (BJP) are the party with the leader deficit.”
During the Press conference at Congress Bhawan Shillong, the Congress leaders highlighted Economic injustice, Social injustice, Political injustice, Economic injustice.
“ Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised 2 crores of employment per year as a promise to get elected in power. In actuals, the unemployment in India is at an all time high. With the latest released data, the unemployment rate amongst the graduates, post graduates and the Phd’s are around 33.6%. The rate of unemployment is at an all time high of 44% amongst the age group of 20-24 years,” Anthony said.
Stating that during the UPA government we provided 75 lacs job per year till 2012 and the BJP government has not been able to provide only 29 lacs job per year till 2022, he said, “Rampant privatization and contractualization of regular jobs have given wat for unfilled government jobs. Why this injustice is made to the youth of India. The UPA government have demonstrated employment generation in a consistent manner against the false lies and promises of the Modi government.”
About the Price Rise he said, “The BJP made street dramas in the name of the people when the LPG gas prices were around 290 to 400 Rs per cylinder in 2012-2014. What is the LPG price now, it is between 900 to 1100 per cylinder. 2014 Petrol was at Rs 71 per liter and we are at Rs 97, Diesel at Rs 55 per liter and now at Rs 86.”
The AICC leader also mentioned that 2014 Potato per kilo at Rs 16 and now between 40 and 50 Rs per kg. In 2014, the prices of Onion were between Rs 10 to 20 per kg and now between 50 to 80 Rs per kg. 2014 a liter of Milk was at Rs 35 per Kg and now at Rs 70 Rs per kg.
The AICC leader also mentioned that the Crimes against SC, STs and OBC’s have increased by 48% in 2022. BJP believes in exclusivity and they insult the lower caste and ignore them of all privileges. Whereas the Congress has promised to do the Caste census that will bring social, economic and political justice to the SC,STs and OBCs.
“Crimes against women have increased to the levels of 31516 registered rape cases in 2022. It is to the tune of 86 rape cases per day,” he claimed.
The Congress leader further alleged that the right extreme wings in the North Eastern side of India have been aggressively escalating the minority persecution in the area.
“386 religious institutions vandalized. 70000 people are displaced from their homes. FCRA approval has been cancelled for many Christian institutions across the North East which is affecting their existence,” he alleged.
170 people died so far in the last 9 months in Manipur. The tribals are fighting and the state has gone to the hands of insurgents, where the state government has no voice or power left.
“The Prime Minister has time to negotiate peace in Ukraine, have opinions and participation in the Israel and Palestine issue, He has time to travel across the world, across India for election campaigns. Yet the Prime Minister has no time for Manipur, nor any interest to bring peace in Manipur,” he added.