National People’s Party (NPP) State President Prestone Tynsong has said that the allegations of them and the BJP being the same, is not new.
“These allegations have been there for many years now. Since 2018 when the NPP started to grow in Meghalaya there were many who tried to scare people not to vote for the NPP since it means the BJP and when the rule the state they will close the Church and won’t allow religious freedom,” Tynsong said.
He said that after the 2018 Assembly elections the NPP ruled the state even as he questioned the critics of the party if there was any moment when the party restricted religious freedom.
Tynsong said that his party stands on the principles to protect the minorities and also to ensure that the culture and traditions of all should be maintained.
Tynsong said that now after the BJP recently pledged their support to the NPP candidates in Shillong and Tura, there are fresh allegations that this has proven both the parties share the same bonding.
“I as the state unit president of the NPP welcome the move of the BJP to support our candidates without any pre-conditions,” he said.
Tynsong said that the party was surprised at the move of the BJP since there were many ticket aspirants from the saffron party in both the constituencies.
“We leave it to the wisdom of the high command of the BJP. Maybe it is in their best interest to support us since the NPP is in the NDA. In other states of the northeast we are supporting other allies of the NDA,” he said.
However, Tynsong said that it does not mean that by supporting other NDA allies it would mean that the NPP would forget the principles on which the party stands.
“Our principles, motto, agenda is to preserve the tradition, culture and religious beliefs of the minorities not only in Meghalaya but throughout the country,” he reiterated.
