Shillong, April 22: VPP president Ardent Basaiawmoit questioned crony capitalism being followed by the MDA-II government led by the NPP.
Addressing a public rally at Motphran here on Wednesday, Ardent wanted to know who is Badri Rai company which was given many government projects.
The public meeting was to highlight the eight-point charter of demands of the party against the MDA government.
The people of the state want to know who Badri Rai is as this person has accumulated maximum projects in the state. From his vehicle, around Rs 1 crore was recovered during the NPP’s election campaign in Arunachal Pradesh, Ardent said.
The VPP president pointed out that this individual is also carrying out projects under the Ekalavya Schools in Sohryngkham and Mawrapad.
The VPP president highlighted the 7-point charter of demands after the government scrapped Lumpongdeng project.
Ardent said the party had sent a letter to the state government in 2024, on the Lumpongdeng issue but it never invited the VPP for discussions.
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The 7 demands below
1. “Ensure Clean Recruitment and Make DSC & MPSC Truly Independent – We demand complete depoliticisation of recruitment bodies like DSC and MPSC – Remove all politically affiliated members; Guarantee transparent, merit-based recruitment; end nepotism, corruption, and bribery.
2 Stop Job Extensions to Retired Employees Give Youth Their Rightful Opportunities- We demand an end to the practice of extending service for retired employees, which blocks opportunities for unemployed youth.
3. Protect Public Land – Stop Backdoor Sale and Illegal Acquisition – We demand Immediate halt to leasing or selling public land to corporates or private entities; Strict adherence to land laws and community rights; no bypassing of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in land matters
4. Secure Meghalaya, Stop Illegal Influx & Protect Border Communities – We demand urgent action to: stop illegal influx into Meghalaya; protect indigenous people and their land; strengthen border security and safeguard vulnerable villages.
5. Stop Coke & Cement Plants – Protect the Environment and Public Health – We demand the government to immediately halt the establishment of new coke and cement plants; shut down all illegal plants operating in the state and close or regulate strictly those that have caused environmental destruction and harmed public health.
6. Detect and Deport Illegal Immigrants -We demand that the government immediately initiate a time-bound and transparent process to detect and deport all illegal immigrants residing in the state.
7: Stop Harassment of Teachers Respect Experience, Withdraw Anti-Teacher Policies. We demand the government to cease requiring long-serving teachers to clear the MTET at the twilight of their careers, which is unjust and demoralising. Thousands of teachers are affected by retrospective application of TET norms. We also demand the immediate withdrawal of the Meghalaya Private College Act 2025, which threatens the autonomy and stability of grant-in-aid institutions”.
Speaking at the public meeting, the VPP chief Aardent said that the claims of the government that the luxury hotels will give jobs to the youths of the state is wrong since the locals are only employed in low- rung works in the existing five-star hotels in the state.
Ardent also said that the party is opposed to the government giving 60 years of lease to the a private entity for building the five-star hotel.
