BJP to soon decide on continuing support to Meghalaya's MDA govt
Shillong (PTI): BJP's Meghalaya in charge M Chuba Ao said the party will soon take a call on whether to continue its support to the NPP-led MDA government in the state or not, amid corruption charges against the Conrad K Sangma dispensation.
"Discussions are on" within the saffron camp, and a final decision on whether to come out of the ruling coalition or not will be taken in one month, he claimed.
The BJP with two MLAs is an ally of the National People's Party-led coalition government in the state.
We will take a decision within one month on whether we will continue support or withdraw. Discussions are going on at various levels. We will discuss it again with our national president J P Nadda, Ao told reporters after a party meeting here on Saturday evening.
The ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance has 48 MLAs, including 23 of the NPP, in the 60-member assembly, while the opposition Trinamool Congress has a strength of 12.
Referring to several corruption charges against the NPP-led government, Ao said the saffron camp has received many complaints and is examining these.
"Our workers have been instructed to collect evidence. If required, central agencies will probe the allegations," he said.
Ao accused the NPP of "running the MDA government at the cost of the BJP".
In Meghalaya, we see how these people are running (the government)..., the BJP leader said.
His comment came three days after the police arrested jailed Meghalaya BJP leader Bernard N Marak for his alleged involvement in extorting money from traders leading to a rise in prices of certain food items.
Marak, the vice president of the BJP's state unit, is in jail in connection with two cases, including one of running a sex racket from his farmhouse in West Garo Hills district.
Asked about the NPP's decision to go alone in the 2023 assembly elections in the state, Ao said nobody can form a new government in Meghalaya without the BJP.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
