Shillong, Sept 23: The former Chief Minister and Congress veteran leader who has just resign from the party Dr D D Lapang,said that the statement made by the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) through Mr. Zenith Sangma and Dr.Celestine Lyngdoh, MPCC President. In this regard, he would like to state that the statement made by them is false, baseless and unfounded.
Dr Lapang said that there has been an ongoing system adopted by the AICC, whenever they want to change the Chief Minister, on grounds best known to them, they summon the sitting Chief Minister to Delhi and is being notified that base on reports collected by the high command, the Chief Minister is asked to step down and submit his resignation. They would go to the extent of drafting the resignation letter according to their whims and fancies.
“ Resonating my case, I have been inducted five times as Chief Minister, and there was a time the AICC intended to change my position and appoint Shri. J.D. Rymbai as CM. As the system goes, I was summoned to Delhi and advised to resign. As a discipline Congress man I did not argue, I willingly oblige. On another occasion, on the pretext of the reports collected by the high commands I was told that for the unity of the party, I was to resign as Chief Minister and Dr Mukul Sangma to be appointed in my place”.
“It was only then that I have been made to understand the mind of the high command and I forwarded my resignation. It was for the sake of unity and to strengthen the party I wholeheartedly cooperated with the decision of the AICC, of which the AICC have expressed their appreciation and gratitude towards me many a times”.
The veteran Congress leader Dr Lapang said that “in the same manner, the AICC wanted to remove me as the President of MPCC, the AICC send Mr Anil Thomas, one of the coordinators of the AICC to Meghalaya. Mr Anil Thomas came to Shillong apprised me about the thoughts of AICC to replace senior and elderly leaders by appointing young leaders. He further said that the AICC President Shri Rahul Gandhi wanted to meet me personally”.
This practice of replacing elderly leaders by the AICC has been going on in many other states, having a close relationship with me and out of respect for my opinion they prefer to address the issue at a personal level. As a dedicated party member he (Dr Lapang) agreed to meet Mr Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Anil Thomas then went back to Delhi to fix a meeting with Mri. Rahul Gandhi and telephoned Mr Rahul Gandhi gave him the appointment to meet him on Saturday.
Dr Lapang narrated that “I however refused to meet him on the given date as I had to attend special church programme on Sunday so he then fix the appointment on Tuesday. I proceed to Delhi, since MrRaul Gandhi arrived very late on Tuesday, we met on Wednesday”.
During the meeting, “I was made to understand what the high command wants. I agreed to step down, but I requested him to allow me to handover on a later date since the assembly election is on and the voting date is just a few days away. But Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the arrangement has been made all over the country including Meghalaya everything is set, which I obediently agreed. I was on my way back to Shillong when I found that the notification approving Dr. C. Lyngdoh’s appointment as the new PCC was already out”.
“I would like to inform that my refusal to contest the assembly election from Nongpoh constituency was because I saw the mind of the AICC to phase out senior and elderly leaders to replace by young ones. I made a decision to project a new young leader Shri Meralborn Syiem who will have a better place in the AICC as it will be in consonance with the present policy. I worked very hard which also reflected in the Shri Meralborn Syiem’s victory by a big margin”.
Dr DD Lapang said that “I hope this note will give a clear picture on the recent decision that has caused many to question, it was one of the hardest thing for me due to my love and sincerity towards the party”. Said Dr DD Lapang in the press statement issued today.
