SHILLONG: In a sharp political broadside against the ruling alliance, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Secretary Manuel Badwar has accused the National People’s Party (NPP) of sacrificing state interests to maintain a coalition of convenience with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing the recent passage of contentious legislation during the ongoing parliamentary session, Badwar claimed that the NPP has consistently yielded to central directives, enabling the BJP to govern Meghalaya by proxy while national media outlets shield the administration from public scrutiny.
Badwar strongly criticized the passage of what he described as draconian laws, arguing that such measures should never reach the legislative floor without exhaustive debate and consensus.
He asserted that the NPP’s reluctance to challenge central mandates stems from a desire to secure federal financial disbursements. While acknowledging the importance of grants and economic allocations for state administration, Badwar insisted that federal funding is a constitutional right—not a political favor that demands total legislative submission.
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He expressed skepticism about the state’s political independence, questioning whether the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has the resolve to pass a resolution opposing central enactments, given the ruling coalition’s deep dependence on its central partner.
Discussing the hurdles faced by opposition parties in stalling legislative momentum in Parliament, Badwar noted the challenge of halting standard amendments under simple majority and quorum rules.
He emphasized, however, that India’s rule of law and written Constitution—rather than pure majoritarianism—provides for judicial review as a safeguard against parliamentary overreach.
Turning to the national media landscape, Badwar alleged a deliberate blackout of opposition protests led by Rahul Gandhi, claiming mainstream outlets have been co-opted by ruling interests. He urged citizens to bypass traditional news channels in favor of social media, where the Congress party continues its campaign against legislative overreach.
(4FrontMedia news)
