SHILLONG, JUL 22: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has said that the NPP-led MDA government’s stability and focus on governance have enabled Meghalaya to achieve significant development over the last eight years.
Addressing a massive crowd during an election campaign at Ummulong Madan Khawang to drum up support for NPP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection, Dr DRL Nonglait, Dhar said, the NPP-led government has been able to deliver or pull down each other because the 32-33 MLAs are working together without a leadership crisis.
“For more than eight years we have been governing the state. We have never had internal fights. We don’t have time to fight for power because we are busy working for our people,” Dhar said.
He contrasted this with past governments where, he alleged, the chief minister was changed every 7 to 8 months.
“But we have unity and good relations, which is why, we have been able to take the state to a different level,” he added.
Dhar defended the government against opposition criticism over borrowing, saying all loans are taken within limits set by the Union Finance Ministry and in accordance with rules and guidelines.
“In 2018, the state budget was Rs 9,000 crore. Today, it is Rs 30,000 crore. The reason is because we have leaders who work hard,” he said.
He cited the Union Finance Minister’s recent clarification that Meghalaya’s debt is “very much within the limits” and noted that several loans announced by the Chief Minister are to be repaid by the Government of India.
“It does not mean that just because you are in power you can do whatever you like. Everything we do is as per rules and regulations,” he said.
Dhar highlighted Rs 10,000 crore spent on roads — Rs 4,600 crore to repair 3,400 km and Rs 5,000 crore for 600 km of new roads.
He also said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had assured an additional Rs 39,000 crore for Meghalaya, and that PM Modi would soon lay the foundation for a Rs 21,000 crore, 166-km four-lane Greenfield road from Umroi to Ratacherra.
The Deputy CM also hit out at opposition parties for repeatedly hurling allegations of corruption at the government without providing proof.
“I feel sorry for those who keep on shouting ‘corruption, corruption’ without producing proofs. But innocent people are being misled by such allegations,” he said.
He concluded by urging voters to support Dr Nonglait in the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection, saying the NPP-led government’s track record of stability and development deserved continued backing.
