Tura, March 20: Former Lok Sabha speaker, National People’s Party president (NPP) Purno A. Sangma today lambasted Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma for utter chaos and lawlessness in the state.
Purno branded Mukul as “chief minister of Ampati and not Meghalaya”.
He arrived from New Delhi and addressed the first poll campaign at Adokgre in North Garo Hills for the Tura Lok Sabha seat, which goes for polling on April 9.
Adokgre is about 150 km from Tura and borders Assam’s Goalpara district.
It is for the first time, Purno was seen addressing the crowd sitting on a wheel-chair, as he has injured his ligament. He told the crowd about his health and said, “If Karunanidhi can sit on a wheel chair and be a member of parliament, why I can’t campaign”.
He made a volley of attack on the Congress party in Meghalaya for its failure to combat insurgency. “chief minister Mukul Sangma is shielding militants and is allowing them to harbour. This has led to rise in insurgency, law and order breakdown, kidnapping and killing. There is no governance in Meghalaya”, he said.
Purno justified his return to national politics as a “need of the hour” adding, “The situation of Meghalaya and Garo hills has compelled me”.
He even said that nobody is bothered about Northeast issues, so it was imperative on his part to come back.
Referring to January 12 last encounter at Darengagal near Tura, Purno said, “The encounter was planned by the government, as ANVC-B cadre, Ajaju Marak dared to speak on Mukul’s link with the outfit”.
Purno explained point by point as he addressed a crowd of about 2000 people wooing them to vote for NPP. “Why was the ANVC-B cadre not identified, why were their photo not released?” he asked.
Dwelling on insurgency situation, Purno said, “The national mode is for change and people of Garo hills have to decide, what they want”.
Chanting Narendra Modi’s mantra, “Freedom from Congress”, Purno gave details of mismanagement of central funds by chief minister Mukul Sangma. He said, “Mukul has diverted funds meant for welfare programmes across Garo hills and have utilized it for his advantage at Ampati”.
Ampati is Mukul’s constituency.
Adding humour to explain his point, Purno reminded of the popular saying, “H D Deve Godwa is PM of Karnataka and not India”.
Highlighting on corruption and mood of the nation, he said, “Congress MPs are not willing to contest and some even have refused tickets, as they fear defeat”.
Purno went on to name P Chidambaram, A K Anthony, C P Joshi, G K Vasant and others, who have refused to contest.
On price rise and failure of UPA-I and II to live upto the expectation of the people, Purno asked, “Why do we need a government, who has failed to curb price hike?”
He said that during the last two tenure of the UPA, petrol price has been hiked 22 times and onion price became costlier than gold.
Sitting MP from Tura, Agatha Sangma, who accompanied her father said, “I have learnt that it is not easy for a newcomer to make things happen in parliament. We need an experience politician to represent Garo hills and Northeast in New Delhi”.
She also clarified that she had to vacate the seat for her love towards Garo hills, which needs a seasoned politician.
Purno has represented Tura seat since 1977 for eight consecutive terms. He returns to active politics after a gap of six and half years.
He decided to quit national politics in 2008 to contest Assembly election in Meghalaya. He is filing his nomination tomorrow at Tura. (SP News)
