Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday accused “politically motivated people” of spreading “fake news” on social media and attempting to take credit for development works carried out by the National People’s Party (NPP)-led state government.
Government prioritises indigenous rights
Addressing an event in Damas, North Garo Hills on May 18, Sangma said the government has kept people at the centre of its development agenda and prioritised indigenous rights. “We, as a government, are putting the rights of our indigenous people at the forefront,” he stated.
Dialogue over suppression
Sangma emphasised that the government believes in dialogue rather than suppressing dissent. He cited the recent unrest over barring non-tribals from contesting elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as an example. The government engaged with NGOs, pressure groups, and the public to address concerns.
“We respect the sentiments of our people and we chose to decide what the people wanted by making an ST certificate mandatory for contesting GHADC elections,” he said.
Allegations of false claims
The Chief Minister alleged that some individuals were using social media to claim credit for the government’s development initiatives. “They are taking credit for the development works that the NPP-led government is doing for the state. I don’t want to name them, but it is clearly evident as they choose social media to propagate their lies to garner publicity,” he said.
Sangma’s remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in the state, with the opposition frequently criticising the government’s performance. The NPP-led coalition has been in power since 2018 and is focusing on infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while also addressing tribal rights issues.
