Williamnagar, Nov 11: Congress has upped its game and its attack on the NPP-led MDA government as Assembly elections approach the state. In its latest attack on the government, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and former Deputy CM, Deborah C. Marak, heavily criticized the govt while speaking about the illegal coal mining, power and education sector.

Addressing a Congress rally at Williamnagar on Thursday, Marak said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had promised to lift coal ban while campaigning in 2018, however coal mining remains a distant dream for the genuine miners.

She said genuine coal miners of the state, especially South Garo Hills, are living in poverty because of the coal mining ban but those with political links are mining and transporting illegal coal everyday to Assam.

She further slammed the government for turning the State into a power deficit one from a power surplus one. “When Captain Williamson Sangma and Salseng C Marak were at the helm of affairs in the state as chief ministers, Meghalaya was able to generate more than sufficient power which was sold to other states. The revenue those states gave back helped the government to embark on development projects in Meghalaya. But, now it is just the opposite and Meghalaya has to buy power at high cost leaving nothing for the state to utilise for development works,” she said.

She was also critical of the education scenario in the state, stating that the education sector is in total shambles. She even went to the extent of stating that Meghalaya has gone the Bihar way due to its poor education scenario.

At the same time, she also blasted the Mukul Sangma-led Trinamool Congress party in State, stating the party is well known for corruption in West Bengal and nothing better should be expected from it in Meghalaya as well.