The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 19 slammed the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government for not allowing prime minister Narendra Modi to hold the election rally in Tura’s PA Sangma stadium.
“We have received this letter stating that the PM’s rally at PA Sangma stadium cannot be allowed since the project is yet to be completed,” BJP national general secretary Rituraj Sinha told reporters.
“My question is that if the PA Sangma stadium is yet to be completed for PM’s rally this month, so on December 16, why did the chief minister inaugurated the stadium,” he asked.
Modi is scheduled to visit Meghalaya on February 24 to address an election rally at Tura and then hold a roadshow in Meghalaya’s state capital Shillong on the same day for the February 27 assembly polls.
Sinha said that the government had informed the people that the stadium was opened but after two months they are denying permission to hold PM’s rally in PA Sangma stadium only because somewhere there is fear.
“I am quoting this because it is the sports ministry of the state which is stating that the facility at the stadium is not ready for PM’s rally,” the BJP leader said.
“I want to ask if the people of Garo Hills does not have the right to listen to PM. Is our opposition – Conrad Sangma and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma – so scared of us (BJP). Is this democratic? Just because the people of Meghalaya have shown complete support for PM and BJP are we going to stall the BJP’s campaign,” he said.
Stating that the PA Sangma stadium has been built at a cost of Rs 127 crore, Sinha said 90 per cent of this money has been given by central government.
“People of Meghalaya should get good sports facilities but if he has inaugurated it on December 16, then why is it being shown incomplete for PM’s rally after two months of inauguration,” the BJP said.
