Shillong, Feb 21: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday slammed the BJP for delaying the implementation of the long pending Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State and terming it as a “Political Game” by the saffron party both in the Centre and the State.

“It is so strange to see in the manifesto of the BJP, one of their agenda is ILP, we (NPP-led MDA government) have passed the resolution in 2019 and we have sent it and when we took a delegation under the leadership of our Chief Minister (to New Delhi), but they (BJP) did not take it seriously or the Language issue,” slammed the Deputy CM.

Tynsong further stated that it is strange that as the election is nearing, the BJP is ready to pursue the two issues that the people of the State have been demanding for a long time.

“It is only a political game made by them (BJP) during this time of election. Infact, not only ILP alone or the Language issue but that time aggressively we have also pursued the issue of amendment of MRSSA, which is also lying now with the Ministry of Home Affairs,” further added the NPP vice president.

He alleged that this delay also shows the non-seriousness by the BJP party on the issues which are “sensitive” and “important” for the interest of the people of the State.

Urging the citizens to have faith in the National People’s Party (NPP), the Deputy CM said the NPP is the only party who dares to take up issues that no other parties have dared to take up prior to the MDA government.

“Voters of Meghalaya are wiser than anyone else because ultimately it is up to them to judge and up to them quietly to choose the representative. I am sure they will repose faith in the NPP as they knew well as it is only us (NPP) who dare to take the long pending issues,” he added.

He mentioned that no other party has take up the issues of ILP or the inclusion of the Khasi & Garo Languages in the 8th Schedule. “I have not seen any resolution made prior the NPP-led MDA government but we are committed to follow it up again with the Government of India,” assured the Dy CM.

It may be mentioned that the BJP leaders both in the Centre and the State have claimed that if the people elect more than 31 BJP legislators they are ready to fulfil all the pending issues of the State.