State Congress Party leader Ronnie V Lyngdoh has expressed fear that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will look to divide the people just to win next year’s Lok Sabha election.
“The NDA (National Democratic Alliance government that the BJP heads) will do anything to win elections, whether its stirring difference among the people on religion or language,” Lyngdoh, who is the leader of the opposition in Meghalaya, said yesterday.
Referring to the violence in Manipur, which has been raging since May, Lyngdoh said that the Prime Minister has found no time to visit the troubled state to restore peace.
“The North East states should be careful of such a political party that is not at all bothered whether there are killings or burning of houses and churches as long as it is in power,” he said.
Lyngdoh also took a dig at the BJP, which has frequently described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as unfit. Gandhi was convicted in a criminal defamation case in the PM’s home state of Gujarat earlier this year and was promptly barred from being an MP. However, the Supreme Court this past week stayed his conviction.
“They (the BJP) tried in whatever way to see that Rahul Gandhi fails as a political leader because he is brave and speaks the truth openly,” Lyngdoh said.
“They call him [Papu] and try to undermine him but they fear him to the extent that they tried their best to plot against him and see that he is no longer an MP.”
The Mylliem MLA and MDC also expressed confidence that the people yearn for the Congress to return to power and for peace to be restored in the country. The elections to the lower house of Parliament are due in the first half of next year.
