Shillong, Sept 29: Union Minister of State, Alphons Joseph Kannanthanam who is also the BJP’s in-charge of the upcoming Assembly election in Meghalaya said that false propaganda was spread to defame the present NDA government at the Centre.
Alphons who hails from Kerela, and the Christian face of the BJP and the NDA government, arrived here on Friday for a two-day visit to the Christian-dominated state along with BJP national spokesperson, Nalin Kohli who is also in-charge of Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters, he that not a single Church or Mosque was destroyed in the country, but only false propaganda was spread to tarnish the image of the BJP and the NDA-led government in the eyes of the citizens of the country.
Terming his visit to the state a “home coming,” Alphons who did his graduation from St. Anthony’s College Shillong, said that he would also meet Church leaders from various denominations during his stay in the city.
“We are into election mood now, and we want to come to power so that we can work for the people and bring happiness to the citizens. We share the dream of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ and Meghalaya should also have a BJP government,” said Alphons, the former IAS officer, also known as the “demolition man” for during his tenure as commissioner of the Delhi Development Authority, he demolished 14,310 illegal buildings in Delhi.
Assuring that the BJP, if elected to power would do “big things” in Meghalaya; Alphons however questioned the present Congress-led government for not creating opportunities despite huge potential in tourism and other sectors.
He also criticized the state government for its failure to implement the pay revision for state employees under the fifth pay commission, bad roads, inability to create infrastructure including setting up of medical colleges that would benefit the youth the state and uplift education.
“Where is the infrastructure? We have great potential in tourism which can create jobs but nobody takes care. What has happened to Meghalaya we did not even have a single medical college. The BJP wanted to provide opportunities to young people and we will ensure a corruption free government,” Alphons said.
He also took a jibe at the present Congress-led government saying, “we have a sleeping government at present here, and such government deserves to be thrown out.”
On the perception that BJP is anti-minorities (Christians and Muslims) , the BJP’s face for the Christian community in the country said, “the propaganda is completely false. Not one Church or Mosque was damaged or burn down during the tenure of the present government, but there is lot of propaganda to defame this government. This is false propaganda, and we hope we will form the government in Meghalaya with the blessings of the people.”
He also cited instances of BJP-led governments in states like Goa, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh that have MLAs from the Christian community who were also inducted as ministers.
On beef ban, Alphons said that the people of Meghalaya not anybody would decide what to eat and dress.
Kohli also said that beef ban has no longer become an issue as rules related to cow slaughter would be reframed, but political opponents would continue to rake up this issue.
To a question, that the BJP has appointed him as minister of the NDA-led government to appease Christians and how he would appease Christians in Meghalaya and convince them to vote for the BJP in 2018, Alphons who took oath as Union minister of state on September 3 and currently in-charge of electronics and information technology, besides culture and tourism said, “I am not here to appease anybody.”
On demonetization that affects the people and hampers the country’s economy as has been criticized by the BJP’s own leader, Yaswant Sinha, the Union minister of state defended that tax collection has gone up in the country and because of demonetization, most of the money has come back.
He however agreed that any revolutionary steps was bound to have repercussion but that would not last long, adding that 13 lakhs “suspicious bank accounts” were being investigated as a result of demonetization.
Reiterating the need to have a corruption-free government, Alphons said that the present NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has huge focus and plans for the Northeast in terms of development, creating opportunities for young people along with good infrastructure, improve education, and promote tourism in this beautiful part of the country.
Coal mining ban:
On ban on coal mining in the state, Alphons blamed the state government for “sleeping” in the past three years and failed to come up with the mining plan so that solution could be found out.
The National Green Tribunal has banned coal mining in Meghalaya since April 17, 2014 till date.
BJP national spokesperson, Kohli however reiterated the BJP’s commitment that if his party comes to power, it would within six to seven months try to put things on the right track.
Land to bureaucrats:
Commenting to a question related to allotment of land at one rupee per square foot for bureaucrats at the proposed new Shillong township at Mawdiangdiang few years ago, the former IAS officer-turned-politician from Kerela said, “I don’t think people should misuse their power. If you take the privilege which is unfair, it is completely criminal.”
There has been a demand to cancel the “illegal” allotment of government lands to bureaucrats in new Shillong township (NST) at Mawdiangdiang.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report for the year ended March 31, 2011 has also pointed out loopholes in the allotment of government land at Mawdiangdiang to Civil Service Officers Housing Co-operativeSociety Ltd (CSOHCSL) and termed it as “unauthorised.”
The CAG pointed out that incorrect fixation of premium at a lower rate resulted in undue financial benefit of Rs 78.42 lakh to the Society besides allotment of land in excess of the prescribed limit.
The CSOHCSL has asked for 45.01 acres of government land at Mawdiangdiang for construction of houses for its members and applied to the revenue department in January 2006.
The Urban Affairs Department, as nodal agency for the NST project, in August 2008 conveyed to the Society the government’s approval to allot 45.01 acres of land on lease for 99 years on payment of a one-time premium of Rs 19.61 lakh and annual land revenue at Rs 494 per hectare as fixed by the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills.
The Society accordingly deposited the premium in October 2008, and signed the lease deed in February 2009 and took possession of the land in May 2009.
The CAG report stated that the assessment on the market value done by the DC East Khasi Hills in June 2008 of the 45.01 acres of land was Rs 1.96 crore and the fixation of the one-time premium to be paid by the Society at 10 per cent of the market value (Rs 19.61 lakh) was incorrect.
The CAG also made it clear that government land can be allotted only by a Cabinet sub-committee.