Congress asks BJP to start rooting out corruption from New Delhi

(file Photo)

Shillong, Feb 12: The ruling Congress on Monday asked the BJP to start rooting out corruption from New Delhi first while ridiculing its recent ‘charge sheet’ against the present state government in Meghalaya.

“The issue is what you (BJP) preach, do practice and start from New Delhi and not from Meghalaya,” AICC national spokesman Tom Vaddakan told reporters while addressing a press conference here on Monday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had recently come up with a ‘charge sheet’ exposing the alleged misdeeds and wrong doings of the ruling Congress in the state ahead of the ensuing Assembly polls, slated to be held on February 27.

The 38 pages chargesheet against Congress – “15 years of loot, 15 years of destruction” had exposed the various scams under the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government and named cabinet ministers Ampareen Lyngdoh, HDR Lyngdoh and Clement R Marak besides two others.

Vaddakan said, “I almost went to sleep reading it (chargesheet) because it is just a repetition of what they are running in other states.”

Pointing out that the chargesheet had accused the Meghalaya government of not being able to establish the Lokayukta in the state, the AICC leader while defending said, “Meghalaya has got high standard in auditing, in transparency but my prayer to them if they are so eager to get Lokpal, start in Delhi as charity begins at home.”

Stating the Delhi, is where the largest corruption is happening, he said that the BJP-led NDA government is not telling the price of the Rafael aircraft. “Can you imagine that while here they are charging against us,” he said.

Meanwhile Vadakkan also likened the party “fronting” the BJP as the “Judas” when replied to a query.

He said that the Congress is bashing the BJP though it is not the main opposition because there are “Judas in operation here” and the party wanted to protect the culture of the people in Meghalaya who should not be told what they should eat, dress and live.

Without naming political parties who are supporting the BJP, the AICC leader said, “Why I am bashing (BJP) is, the message must go to the people who are fronting the BJP – this is the Judas in operation. These are the people who have sold their souls and now their bodies are on sale. These are the people who have compromised with the devil because of power.”

“We are not against the BJP or any individuals,” the Congress spokesperson adding that the BJP is using the front to come to power through backdoor.

“Backdoor technology is what they master misusing the Constitution by using all practices. You have seen that in Goa. That’s why I am saying, Judas is in town, you take care of him,” Vaddakan.

He also slammed the BJP on demonetization, implementation of GST, and the move of the NDA government to implement the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill.

The Congress leader alleged that the Bill if it becomes an Act, will allow the use of depositors hard earn money to help banks bail themselves out when they go bankrupt.

“The tall claim of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that demonetization will root out black money, stop circulation of fake notes and terrorism, has only fallen flat on his face. Instead this turned out to be independent India’s biggest financial scam that took your money and burned your pockets. The rich and the corporate made a windfall due to demonetization as it helped them turn black money into white,” Vaddakan said.

He also accused the BJP of implementing GST for the interest of few selected corporate and questioned the NDA government if it is protecting oil companies for not bringing petroleum products under GST.