BJP accuses Munshi of being 'anti-northeast'

Shillong, Feb 14 (UNI) The Opposition BJP in Meghalaya today described Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi as 'anti-northeast'.

Arunachal Pradesh BJP MP Kiren Rijiju said, Mr Dasmusnhi, a senior Congress leader, was working against the interest of the region's people and taking up a host of anti-northeast policies.

Mr Rijuju made this statement while releasing his party's election manifesto for the March 3 Assembly polls in Meghalaya.

'' North Bengal has been included in the Brahmaputra Board. The Board was specifically created for the northeast, but by clubbing North Bengal into it, the budget allocation for the region now stands reduced,'' Mr Rijiju pointed out.

The Arunachal Pradesh MP claimed that he along with other MPs from the region, had urged the Union Minister during last year's Northeast MP forum's meeting not to include North Bengal in the board, but Mr Dasmushi did not pay any heed.

'' We (Northeast MPs) are still pursuing the matter with the Union Minister but it seems Dasmunshi is adamant,'' he said.

On allocation of slots in Doordashan and All India Radio to small tribal groups from the region, Rijiju alleged that Mr Dasmunshi had been sitting on the files for months.

'' These small ethnic tribal groups had proposed five minute slots for news in Doordashan and AIR, but in vain. He (Dasmunshi) is definitely anti-northeast. His action speaks for it,'' the MP added.

UNI RRK KK DB1650