From C K Nayak
Salseng, Lapang finally meet Congress president
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has assured dissident Meghalaya Congress leaders — seeking removal of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma over style of functioning — that the AICC will take the ‘right decision’ at an appropriate time for the benefit of the party.
She gave this assurance to MPCC president D D Lapang, former Chief Minister Salseng Marak and senior cabinet Minister H D R Lyngdoh when they called on Gandhi at her residence on Wednesday morning.
“She listened to us patiently and was dismayed at the state of affairs in Meghalaya and particularly the deteriorating law and order situation in the Garo Hills for quite some time,” one of the dissident leaders told The Shillong Times when contacted.
She also assured that timely action will be taken to stem the rot and she is fully aware of the goings on in Meghalaya ever since the last Lok Sabha polls, he added.
After the meeting with Gandhi, the Meghalaya Congress veterans held a separate meeting with the Shillong MP Vincent H Pala and got in touch with other state leaders.
Meanwhile, a statement issued from Lapang’s office described the meeting as ‘historic’.
The meeting at 10 Janpath, which lasted for more than half an hour, was exhaustive and quite comprehensive in exchanging views on the current political situation in Meghalaya that included law and order, the decline and decay of Congress
Party at all levels in the State and other related matters, the statement issued by Charles Marngnar, private secretary to Lapang said. Gandhi gave a patient and purposive hearing to the stalwarts from the State. The leaders who came out of the meeting were optimistic that steps will now follow to remedy the situation in the State that includes change of the present leadership, it added.
Wednesday’s meeting was the second between the rebel Congress legislators from Meghalaya and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. A fortnight ago, Congress legislators had also met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi about the growing dissent within the party. The ruling Congress in Meghalaya has been riddled with infighting and none of the leaders were able to complete a full five-year-term except Salseng C Marak.