SHILLONG, SEPT 6: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Saturday said the NPP-led government will not be deterred by criticism and will continue to deliver development without discrimination.

Campaigning at Maweit in Mawshynrut for NPP candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha by-poll Dr DRL Nonglait, Dhar said opponents have been branding the NPP as a high-handed and corrupt government.

“Some say NPP is a high-handed government, a government that steals. I want to make it clear – we don’t care how much you talk. Our skin has become thick. Our duty is to work. The more you criticize us, the more we will work for the public,” Dhar said.

He said genuine development is done step by step.

“If we give a civil sub-division or a block without infrastructure, what will it do? If we give a college without teachers, who will come? Leaders have to do things phase by phase,” he said.

Dhar said road sanctions in constituencies represented by UDP and HSPDP prove that the NPP does not play partisan politics.

“Most of these constituencies are represented by UDP and HSPDP. Yet we sanction projects. This shows NPP does not discriminate. I am not saying other MLAs do not work, but NPP listens to the cries of the public,” he said.

On the NPP’s alliance with the BJP, Dhar said collaboration for development should not be mixed with religion.

“People say NPP works very hard but because it works with BJP it is not good. Just because we work with BJP, will we change our religion? That is wrong. We work with BJP to bring development and improve the lives of our people,” he said.

“Dr Nonglait is Presbyterian and I am from another faith. Does that mean I will convert? No. Religion is separate, politics is separate,” he added.

Taking on parties that invoke community sentiment, Dhar said work matters more than slogans.

“Some parties say they love the jaidbynriew. Love has many types. A father can say he loves his wife and children, but if there is no rice at home, it is not love. If an MLA says he loves the people but brings no work, that is not love either,” he said.

He said Mawshynrut area has seen change under the NPP government and appealed to people to stand with the party.