The Congress Party in Meghalaya has been guilty on several occasions of poaching members away from the regional parties, many of whom have gone on to become the brightest lights in the party, United Democratic Party (UDP) general secretary Jemino Mawthoh has told Highland Post.
“The Congress has always accused the regional parties of lacking unity but the fact is that most of the past leaders of the Congress were from the regional parties. They used us as a springboard to win elections but, after winning, they joined the Congress and then started pointing fingers at the regional parties,” he said.
These include the late Captain Williamson Sangma, late PR Kyndiah and Salseng Marak (from the erstwhile APHLC), the late Peter Marbaniang (from the HSPDP), as well as Ampareen Lyngdoh and AH Scott Lyngdoh.
“The Congress leaders at present should stop pointing fingers at the UDP and remember that all these tall leaders first made their mark in regional parties before they left and joined the Congress,” Mawthoh said.
Stating that Congress has ruled the state for more than four decades but failed to articulate or do anything on the issues close to the heart of the people, he added, “If we talk of hypocrisy and double standards it is the Congress and not the regional parties because education was in doldrums under them. Coal mining and transportation besides boundary issues, the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule, Inner Line Permit are some of the many other problems that have multiplied. These did not begin under the present government but the Congress continues to play with words.”
