Shillong, Aug 10: Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma Sunday praised the Congresslegislators in Meghalaya for demanding the removal of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma over the prevailinglaw and order situation in Garo Hills.
“I am happy that the majority of Congress legislators in the state
have realized the gravity of the situation and want a change of
leadership in the state,” said the National People’s Party (NPP) MP
from Tura parliamentary constituency.
He told reporters that “the Congress is a responsible political party
and cannot afford an irresponsible chief minister”.
“Meghalaya is a fit case for President’s Rule, but if the Congress has
come to their senses, perhaps President’s Rule can be avoided with a
new leadership in the Congress Legislature Party,” he said.
Sangma’s statement gains significance in wake of the growing
dissatisfaction over the functioning of the chief minister.
Last week, Meghalaya Congress committee chief D.D. Lapang along with
cabinet ministers Prestone Tynsong and H.D.R. Lyngdoh had apprised
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi about
the growing dissent within the party.
“Whether it is Meghalaya or Assam, the demand for change in leadership
is an internal matter of a party. But when the problem goes beyond the
party and affects the common people, we, as the people’s
representatives and as leaders, cannot keep silent,” he said.
On the worsening law and order situation in Garo Hills in the western
part of Meghalaya, Sangma, who met Meghalaya Governor K.K. Paul
Saturday, said: “The law and order situation in Garo Hills has also
affected the neighbouring state of Assam.”
He cited how people in Assam burnt the effigy of the Meghalaya chief
minister and demanded imposition of President’s Rule in Meghalaya.
Sangma also said that Meghalaya is staring at a deep financial crisis
following the National Green Tribunal’s ban on rat-hole coal mining
coupled with rampant corruption and the breakdown of law and order in
the state.
“The economy of Meghalaya has been badly affected as Meghalaya is
losing revenue of Rs.600 crore from coal mining in view of the NGT’s
ban and the breakdown of law and order situation in the state,” he
said.
In the 60-member legislature, the Congress has 29 legislators and has
the support of two NCP members and 12 independents.
The combined opposition Meghalaya People’s Front has 12 members
consisting of eight United Democratic Party members, two NPP and two
independent members.(SP News)
