New Delhi: Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Konrad K Sangma on Monday denied allegations that he declined the Bharatiya Janata Party’s request to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in the poll-bound state.
“All permissions come from the Election Commission of India and based on its direction, the district administration takes action. So there has been no talk from NPP or from my side; It is completely wrong to drag our (NPP and mine) names into this. Even I have not got permission for many of my rallies.
The NPP president further said that such things happen during elections but BJP has made it a big issue.
But we have already said that the stadium has two parts. The first part has the football stadium, which is ready and inaugurated. The second part, which has an indoor stadium and swimming pool, is not ready and we have made it clear. Only half is ready and the other half is not ready,” Sangma said.
On Sunday, the BJP alleged that the ruling National People’s Party in Meghalaya did not allow the party to hold PM Modi’s rally at the PA Sangma Stadium in Tura, citing ‘construction work at the site’.
The BJP had planned to organize a mega election rally of Prime Minister Modi in Tura on 24 February.
BJP National Secretary Rituraj Sinha Said, “We requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a roadshow in Shillong and a public rally in Tura, Garo Hills. We had sought permission for PA Sangma Stadium to hold PM’s rally but we were surprised to know that the stadium is under construction and not ready. So he sent a letter that PM’s rally cannot be held there. The entire country and the people of Meghalaya know that the PA Sangma Stadium was inaugurated in a grand manner by CM Conrad Sangma on 16th December itself.
With inputs from PTI
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