Tura, March 20: Former Lok Sabha Speaker, National People’s Party (NPP) president Purno Sangma today said, “Congress is in ICU and was aware that it would not survive the upcoming election”. Interacting with a group of journalist at Adokgre, he said, “It was time for the people to be rid of the Congress. All non-Congress parties are united to make India Congress free”.
He also stated that BJP was contemplating to field a candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat but on his request the party decided to support UDP candidate Paul Lyngdoh.
Purno is of the view that he along with Nagaland chief minister, Neiphu Rio, who is also contesting the Lok Sabha polls and Paul Lyngdoh will be able to represent Northeast in the parliament.
On dialogue with Garo National Liberation Army, he said, “I am in favour of dialogue with them as I have seen through experience that things can be sorted through talks”.
On release of GNLA chairman, Champion Sangma, Purno said, “We will have to look at their demands and then review what needs to be done”.
He also stated that the creation of separate Garoland state was a serious issue and has been included in NPP’s manifesto.
Terming that Northeast was a integral part of India, he said, “Who were affected during the wars of China and Bangladesh. It is the people of the Northeast. There has been so much of Chinese incursion into Arunachal and we have been the sufferers. The people of the North East knows mainland India, but do the people of India know the Northeast?”(SP News)
