Praising the good performance of the ruling Congress-led government in Meghalaya for the past eight years, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today cautioned the people of Meghalaya about the 'double-face' of the BJP government while dealing with religious minorities group in the country.

"Where is the real face of this Government? In Meghalaya, they can come here and say you can eat whatever you like, in the rest of India they beat and even killed people on suspicion of having eaten beef. This is the two faces Government that is seeking votes," he told reporters here.

Urging the electorates to vote for Congress in the February 27 assembly polls, Mr Tharoor, who is here on a two-day visit campaigning for the Congress, charged the National People's Party (NPP) and other regional parties of trying to disguise the fact that they are playing with the agenda of BJP.

"If you want a country not to be criminalized on what you eat or you won't be assaulted from whom you choose to love. If you want a country which religion you see fit for you. If you want such a country the only party that believes and stands for such an India is the Congress party," the former Minister of State for External Affairs said.

Accusing the BJP of trying to impose a narrow minded idea that is based on Hindi, Hindu and Hindutva, Mr Tharoor said, "They come to Meghalaya and talk about being kind to Christians. In other states where the BJP is ruling, I have seen various incidents involving Christians."

In Meghalaya, he said, "They (BJP) are opening their arms to all, but in Delhi they are denying a visa to a Pastor who wishes to come here to celebrate 150 years of Christianity in the Garo Hills."

Stating that votes of people of Meghalaya matter because they are helping to determine the future of India, the two-time Congress Lok Sabha member said, "They are helping by denying the BJP one more opportunity to advance in its sinister and narrow minded agenda. I urge you all to vote for the Congress."

Taking potshots at NPP and other small regional parties, Mr Tharoor said that he has always been who have been interested in "national vision not the regional one".

"In this particular case, the NPP is trying to say to the people of Meghalaya that they are independent by contesting by themselves and everywhere else not in Meghalaya they are allied to the BJP and they are attaching themselves as a tail that is wagging whenever the dog barks," he said.

Praising the ruling Congress government for its "astonishing improvement in education," Mr. Tharoor said, "Meghalaya is second to none particularly not in literacy, primary school enrollment, but also in the way in which it is able to overcome discrimination and gender inequalities, women have been empowered in the process of the improvement of education in the state."

"In a way no other state can point the highest rate of female literacy in India is no longer my state Kerela my state has come ahead. I must say that this is a tribute to the commitment of the government to fulfill the spirit of the right to education Act that UPA has been glimmering for," he added.

On health sector, the senior Congress leader said the BJP government in Delhi trying to borrow from Meghalaya by announcing a nation wide health insurance scheme.

But unlike Meghalaya, he said they did not have realistic numbers in fact they have no indication in the budget how they would finance the scheme.

"The health scheme that is already working here functioning on the basis of a very modest premium, right to use both private and government hospitals, covering families for 2.80 lakh a yearall of these has set an absolute example for the nation. Once again Meghalaya is on the forefront," Mr Tharoor said.