Shillong: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has indirectly accused Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma of misleading the public regarding the delayed disbursement of scholarships.

According to the BJP, the state's failure to fulfill its obligations, particularly submitting the mandatory 10 per cent contribution and the finalized list of beneficiaries, is the primary cause of the delay.

The BJP alleged that the Chief Minister's attempt to shift the blame to the central government is a smokescreen to hide the state's inefficiency. State BJP vice president Bernard N Marak stated that the state is responsible for submitting the names of beneficiaries and the 10% contribution, but has repeatedly failed to do so.

The delay has affected not only scholarships but also other central schemes, including MGNREGA, Kisan cards, and free rice distribution programs.

The BJP claimed that the state's failure to provide its share has caused widespread delays in the disbursement of benefits, leaving thousands of people, including students, farmers, and the poor, caught in a bureaucratic crossfire.

The BJP also accused the state of failing to cover carriage charges for free rice distribution, instead pressuring dealers to pass the burden onto beneficiaries.

Marak stated that the state should not blame the Centre, as it is their duty to finalize the list of beneficiaries, submit their 10 per cent contribution, and only then can the Centre release the funds directly into people's accounts.