The Meghalaya Congress today recalled the contribution of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the creation of Meghalaya back in 1972.
“It is through the blessing of the Congress that this state was carved out of the erstwhile undivided Assam,” party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh said on the eve of Meghalaya’s 50th birthday.
She also said that it was her party that recognised the Autonomous District Council and strengthened them through the years, giving tribals power under the umbrella of the Sixth Schedule.
“The late Rajiv Gandhi (another Prime Minister from the Congress) further instituted a provision that the district councils should not be eradicated or removed from our system even though the Panchayati Raj system was put into place,” Lyngdoh stated.
Stating that the non-violent movement was of a rare kind, Lyngdoh praised the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Williamson A Sangma, who was at the helm of affairs for a good number of years.
“We cannot forget the contributions of Purno A Sangma, DD Lapang, SC Marak, JD Rymbai, and Dr Mukul Sangma, the leaders of the India National Congress, who delivered good governance for 35 years and 317 days,” she said.
She reminded the gathering that, under Congress rule, the state was bestowed with the North East Council headquarters, North-Eastern Hill University and NEIGRIHMS. Other success stories, the East Shillong MLA said, included electricity projects, creation of districts to bring administration closer to the people, the Megha Health Insurance Scheme, etc.
Looking to the future, especially difficult given the mass defection of 12 MLAs last year, she said the Congress will compose a solid manifesto ahead of the 2023 elections that will focus on inflation, farmer suffering, ban on coal and pro-people projects.
