Taking exception to reports that the expenditure of a recent Congress meeting was borne by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the BJP today demanded an explanation from the government.

"It was our expectation that the Congress Party would refute the charge because in this juncture the state is going through a financial crunch. It is not expected of the Congress to have a party meeting at the cost of government exchequer," BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said.

Reports had claimed that cost of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on January 20 was borne by the MTDC.

Ronnie Lyngdoh, CLP secretary and also the chairman of the MTDC, made the requisition for the party meet at Pinewood Hotel claiming that the meeting is an "official MTDC" meeting, the reports said.

According to the requisition, the expected number of VIPs is 35 and the number of drivers and PSOs is 65, a total of about 100 people. The total cost of food and room rent was over Rs 50,000.

The BJP demanded that either the Congress refute the charges or pay the bill to the hotel.

Slamming the state government for corruption, the BJP said the Congress "has kept all its shame aside and is desperate to loot the state".