Meghalaya needs a so-called double engine BJP government, with the state joining the Centre in being ruled by the saffron party, Tura MDC and BJP state vice-president Bernard Marak said today.
In a statement, Marak said, “Every five years, legislators talk about development, placing huge figures on their annual budgets but, in reality, all visible development on the ground are schemes and projects sponsored by the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Having the BJP run both the state and Centre would lead to huge positive changes for the people of Meghalaya, he maintained.
“The Centre approved and funded projects for infrastructure, road, education, health, water and multiple schemes to uplift the poor in the state but no acknowledgement was given to the central government,” he claimed.
According to him, most of the foundation stones that have been laid under the present government do not mention the funds that were sanctioned for them by central government ministries.
“Even the banners and hoardings that are put up everywhere in the state highlight centrally-sponsored projects and schemes but nowhere was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture put up with credit and acknowledgement,” Marak added while stating that oftentimes it was local politicians who put up their own pictures to associate themselves with central schemes and projects.
The PMGSY, PMAY, JJM, MHIS, PM Kisan, Swatch Bharat and many other schemes that have transformed Meghalaya are all centrally-sponsored, he stated, though he also alleged that much of the funds have been looted by politicians at the local level.