Meghalaya Chief Minister and National Peoples Party (NPP) chief Conrad K Sangma asserted that neither he nor his party had any role in denying permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modis election rally at the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura.“The Election Commission of India grants all permits,” he declared. Thus, neither NPP nor I are allowed to speak. Bringing up our name is absolutely incorrect. In numerous cases, I was even refused permission to hold rallies. The West Garo Hills district officials have been notified by the Sports department that permission cannot be granted for the PM to hold his rally there due to potential safety hazards posed by construction waste.Prior to the February 27 assembly election, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), which last month severed ties with its ally NPP, claimed that the ruling party was attempting to prevent a “wave of the BJP” in the state. According to the Meghalaya chief minister, the BJPs accusation is false because the permissions for rallies are granted by the Election Commission and the district administration. He said that these kinds of things happen during the elections but BJP has made this very big issue.Sangma also added that the permission denial may be due to the huge crowd expectations on PMs rally. He added that there are two parts of the stadium, the first part consists of the football stadium and the second one consists of indoor stadium and swimming pool, is not ready and we have made this clear in advance.“It is a fact that when PM Modi holds a programme, the crowd will be huge. So, I feel that the district administration may have felt that since it is natural turf, and if many people come, it will damage the natural turf. Also, there is no parking facility there,” he said.And the BJP has wondered how a stadium that was inaugurated in December can be declared under construction just after two months. The stadium was inaugurated on December 16.BJPs reply to the denial of permission in MeghalayaOn February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to campaign in Meghalaya ahead of assembly elections. He has been denied permission to do so by the sports department of Meghalaya.According to BJP, the sports department of Meghalaya denied permission to the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) to host an election rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the PA Sangma Stadium in West Garo Hills district which is Chief Minister Conrad K Sangmas home constituency of South Tura, citing construction work at the venue. The PM was scheduled to campaign in Shillong and Tura for the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly Elections on February 24.The BJP is now fuming over the development, alleging that the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP), along with the Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties, were trying to stall a “wave of the BJP” in the state.He also added that the stadium was inaugurated by Chief Minister Conard Sangma on December 16 last year, which was built at the cost of Rs 127 crore, with 90 percent funds from the Centre, he added.Amit Shah to address election rallies in MeghalayaUnion Minister Amit Shah will today visit the poll-bound Shillong, Meghalaya for upcoming assembly elections. He will be addressing two rallies there, first election campaign rally at West Shillong and second at Pynthorumkhrah.On February 14, BJP National President JP Nadda also visited Shillong. This time BJP is contesting all 60 seats. The assembly polls in Meghalaya will be held on February 27 and the results will be declared on March 2.
