Shillong, Feb 15: The Congress on Wednesday accused the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) for bringing its “legacy of violence” in Meghalaya.

AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told reporters that the TMC is bringing the violent politics of West Bengal into Meghalaya, which was evident in the recent clashes in West Garo Hills.

On February 9, 2023, Meghalaya police arrested 16 supporters of TMC for pre-election violence in Garo Hills.

“And TMC is not even in power in Meghalaya (and) a trail of violence follows TMC wherever they go whether it is West Bengal or Tripura, there has been a constant stream of violence they bring. Meghalaya has always been a peaceful state,” she said.

Alleging the TMC to be a party which is immersed in corruption and exploitation of the poor, Supriya said, “More than Rs. 100 crores were taken as bribe by TMC leaders from ordinary citizens in the teachers’ recruitment scam. Former education minister Partha Chatterjee is in jail since July 2022 after he was arrested by the CBI. The Saradha Scam, Narada Scam, Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam and the recent cattle smuggling scam in which another TMC leader Anubrata Mandal is in jail.”

Stating that the amount of money TMC is splurging in this election in Meghalaya is mindboggling, she said, “Where is all this money coming from? Your guess is as good as ours!”

She said the TMC’s dubious entry and immediate exit post-election in Goa puts serious doubts on TMC.

“Is TMC a silent partner of the BJP? Was the entry of TMC in Goa only a charade done to divide the votes against Congress? Is TMC attempting something similar in Meghalaya? Is it intentionally going to cheat the people of Meghalaya also? If they are not in agreement with BJP in Meghalaya, why is TMC silent about the BJP in Meghalaya,” she asked.

Meanwhile, the AICC leader said the people of Meghalaya don’t trust BJP as they are fearful about being stripped out of their protective ethnic and indigenous rights; (whereas) TMC only has the greed to be in power without any political ideology; it brings in a culture of violence and is hand in glove with the BJP against the interest of the people of Meghalaya.

Stating that the Congress is the only party for Meghalaya, she said it was responsible for the creation of the state to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Meghalaya.

“We have always respected the uniqueness and diversity of the people of the state. We implemented the Sixth Schedule for the protection of cultural diversity and security of the people of Meghalaya. Respect for diversity and the indigenous rights of the people of Meghalaya and the North East has made the unity of India possible,” he said.