Shillong, Jan 29:  National People’s Party (NPP) Chief Conrad K. Sangma on Monday accused the Congress of using the “minorities as its vote bank” but failed to raise issues for the welfare of the plain belt area of Garo hills.

Drumming up support for his party candidate S.G. Esmatur Mominin who is contesting from Phulbari constituency, the lone NPP Lok Sabha member said, “There are five ruling MLAs from plain belt area of Garo hills but there is no visible development in the area. The roads in plain belt area are in pathetic condition.”

He said there is no good educational institution, no proper health care facilities and the chief minister (Mukul Sangma) is making “tall claims of equitable development in Meghalaya”.

Sangma also lashed out at Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal, who is the sitting legislator from Phulbari constituency,  for failing to raise issues for the welfare of the plain belt area of Garo hills.

“People of plain belt had repose their faith in Congress time and again but the Congress leaders had never respected the mandate of the people. It is shame on the government that government has failed to work to fulfill their promises for its people,” the NPP leader said.

He also urged the voters  to woke up and pledge their commitment to NPP and elect their leader Mominin, who would work in tandem with the new NPP government to ensure that neglected plain belt areas, which are mostly dominated by the minorities will witness transformative change and walk in the path of overall development.

Talking on local issues with regard to MGNREGA and its implementation he said, “The village employment council has to be strengthened in the state so that there is proper implementation of the project. The scheme can bring a turnaround in village development but due to lack of planning and corruption at different levels, the area has not seen any successful intervention under MGNREGA”.

Sangma also assured the people that if elected to power NPP would revive the non-functional irrigation project of Rongai Valley and further push to convert the Singimari, Rajabala, Phulbari, and Tikrikilla road to National Highway.

“I have already taken up the issue with central government and would further push to ensure that the road which is the lifeline of the people of plain belt region is materialized at its earliest. The plain belt region is very important to ensure close ties with Assam and West Bengal and we will ensure that proper infrastructure were put in place for the growth of business and trade in the region”, he added.