Following remarks made by the Voice of the People Party (VPP) MLA Adelbert Nongrum concerning the relocation of the 342 families from Them Iewmawlong, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today lashed out at the opposition party for what he described as playing politics and misleading the public.
Nongrum, under whose constituency Them Iewmawlong falls, had questioned yesterday how the number of families that qualify for resettlement under the deal struck between the state government and Harijan Panchyat Committee had risen from 184 to 342.
Nongrum also criticised the additional allotment of 1.4 acres for the resettlement, saying that the VPP would do the “right thing” if it had control of the government.
The Deputy CM today stated that those politicians who criticise the government’s decision are playing political games “without knowing the reality and not knowing the actual numbers of residents of that place, so I wouldn’t want to waste time on issues that they raise.”
He also clarified that by adding another 1.4 acres of land to the deal does not mean that the government is handing the land directly to the residents, rather to the Shillong Municipal Board, for whom the residents work.
“They (the VPP) shouldn’t play politics unnecessarily. If you need clarification, come and meet me and I will explain it for you but you can’t just mislead people. Enough is enough,” a visibly irritated Tynsong said.