Tura, Nov 18: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is aware of the plight of Bengalis in Meghalaya and will raise the issue during its poll campaigns in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, said Abhishek Banerjee on Friday.
Banerjee told Meghalaya Monitor that the party believes in harmony, unity and integrity. “Definitely we will talk about the issue,” he added.
Three petals stand for Khasi -Jaintia & Garos
Earlier, Banerjee allayed fears about TMC being a “Bengal-based” party saying these claims were baseless and the party is here to work on the contentious issues. He pointed out that the three petals in the symbol of TMC stand for Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya.
Later, during a press conference, when asked whether the scams and corruption allegations against TMC in West Bengal would affect its prospects in Meghalaya, Banerjee said the party has zero tolerance for corruption. “No one supports corruption. We have been very clear. Will any party have the courage to expel a corrupt leader? That is perhaps the state of affairs here is in a shambles. It needs to be overhauled,” he said, reiterating that TMC has zero tolerance for corruption.
To a query on why some of the 12 MLAs who quit the Congress to join the TMC are planning to leave the party, Banerjee said that there will be murmurs and chatters as the election is approaching.
“Many MPs are leaving the BJP and joining the Trinamool and it is not the other way round”, he added.
On the question of delay in implementing ILP, the AITC leader said the Assembly had already passed a resolution in this regard three years ago and whatever delay is from the Centre.
“Whether it is ILP, border dispute or any other issue, we will have extensive consultations with the stakeholders”, Banerjee said.
Regarding the agenda to fight the 2023 Assembly polls in Meghalaya, the AITC leader said whether it is education, health care and social sectors, the MDA government has not made any significant changes in the lives of the people of Meghalaya.
He also made clear that the party is working to win and not lose. He added that the 2023 elections in Meghalaya and Tripura are extremely important and the party is working hard on all fronts.
Taking a jibe at the Centre, the AITC leader questioned as to what happened to recognition to Khasi and Garo languages in the state and added that the BJP-led government at the Centre has failed to address the concerns of the people.
Banerjee also downplayed a question that the state has to depend on the Centre for getting funds and schemes.
“If the BJP was supporting the state government why it could not include Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th schedule to the constitution and you talk about a double-engine government but sectors like education and health collapsed, there are no doctors, no teachers in schools, life is miserable for the people of the state”, he added.
