Editor,
There arises no question about PA Sangma’s merit, experience, deeds, qualities and personality. Also we fondly remember his efficiency and popularity as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Though I am an ardent supporter of Mr Pranab Mukherjee and would be extremely delighted if he succeeds in entering Raisina Hill, but I have held Mr Sangma in high respect rand was also of the belief that he had all the qualities expected from a candidate contesting the Presidential elections. But it was indeed shocking to witness how unlike the dignified Mr Mukherjee, Mr Sangma himself came to the forefront to beat his own trumpet, that too by exploiting the sentiments of religion and tribe! What was the need for it when there exist innumerable admirers of Mr Sangma who would have rooted for him by banking on his merit and qualities alone? Thanks to Sangma’s hankering after the Presidentship, BJP ultimately has decided to back his candidature.
The admirers of Sangma were of the belief that from now onwards at least he will act rationally, but again has he disappointed us. Perhaps to exhibit his indebtedness towards the BJP, which remains an indispensible part of the Sangh Parivar — the self-appointed “guardian” of the Hindus, Mr Sangma has felt absolutely no qualms in declaring that the barbaric killing of the angel named Graham Stuart Staines (along with his two innocent vulnerable children) and cold-blooded assault on Christians and Churches in Orissa’s Kandhamal by the fanatic “Hindutva” brigade are merely “minor incidents”! Still he feels moral strength to advocate his case by banking on Christianity!
Also, Mr Sangma has probably forgotten the fact that he is not in a rat-race to get elected as MP or MLA, but in a mission to become the President – that highly prestigious and supreme Constitutional seat. But sadly Mr Sangma has denigrated the dignity of the esteemed seat by taking resort to cheap mud-slinging against the opposition as are religiously witnessed in elections for Lok Sabha, Assemblies, Municipalities or Panchayats. After being nominated as the BJP-backed candidate for Presidentship Sangma holds every authority to ask for votes from the electoral college by visiting different states. But the manner in which he is spewing venom at Pranab Mukherjee has not only tarnished his image to the extreme, he has also vitiated the dignity of the President’s office.
Perhaps the history of independent India has never witnessed such cheap antics from a candidate vying for Presidentship. How can he accuse Pranab Mukherjee alone for the economic slowdown in the country? Is Mukherjee the Prime Minister or the be-all and end-all of Government? Though there exist different Ministers holding different portfolios, each and every Government decision or step remains the collective responsibility of the Union Cabinet including the Prime Minister. Moreover, perhaps no nation exists in the globe which has remained absolutely unaffected by the recession in recent years. And can Sangma name a single Finance Minister during whose tenure India’s economic picture was the “envy of the world”? Also before “proving” the “callouness” of Pranab Mukherjee, will Sangma kindly enlighten the nation regarding his performance as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and as the Union Minister in charge of Information & Broadcasting, Labour & Welfare and Coal? And how can he accuse Pranab Mukherjee alone for the corruption in the country? Was India honesty-personified during the non-Congress regimes or when Mukherjee was not the Finance Minister? In his zeal to become President by hook or by crook, it seems that Sangma is fast losing all sense of logic. But at the end of the day the fact remains that one’s performance as a Cabinet Minister, Chief Minister, MP or MLA is completely irrelevant when the question concerns eligibility for Presidentship. The candidate for Presidentship needs to be a person of sharp acumen and intellect and also should be knowledgeable of Constitutional norms. He should be honest and enjoy wide popularity cutting across political spectrum. And Pranab Mukherjee fully fits the bill in this respect. As far as Pranab Mukherjee’s capabilities as Finance Minister is concerned, ‘Euromoney’ had declared him as the ‘Best Finance Minister of the World” in 1984, ‘Emerging Markets’ declared him as the ‘Finance Minister of the Year for Asia’ in 2010 and also in the very same year he was honoured with the epithet ‘Finance Minister of the Year’ by ‘The Banker’. Instead of making a fool of himself by taking resort to rhetoric and taking pot-shots at the stalwart named Pranab Mukherjee or provide moral support to the religious fanatics who have blood in their hands; Mr PA Sangma should instead put emphasis on his own personal achievements, traits and what he can offer the nation as its President. His duty as the Presidential candidate ends right there and thereafter he should just wait for the verdict, which should be accepted with utmost dignity.
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee,
Kolkata 114
II
Editor,
In response to Jayashree Dutta (Purkayastha)’s letter(ST June 26,2012), I would like to give my own views on this matter. I totally agree with her that it is not necessary to have a tribal President in our country. Many are supporting P A Sangma on the plea that he is a tribal. Why do we have to have tribal or a non-tribal as President? Why can’t a President be someone who does not belong to any particular religion, tribe, party or for that matter region. Why can’t India for once go for someone capable, far-sighted, thinking individual instead of seasoned politicians who have been in this field for too long that they can’t think of anything progressive other than making special appearances and making speeches when elections knock at the door? Are tribals that foolish and blind to even think rationally? Why do we have P A Sangma in mind? What has he given to the tribals other than just a name? What has he done so well that his name is thought of for the highest post in the country? I would like to remind all the tribals especially the Garo tribe to open their eyes to the fact that till now, as the sitting MLA of Tura constituency, he has not done anything at all. He is a good orator just like any other politician and he knows what to say at the right time and at the right place. What if in our enthusiasm to get one tribal as the president of this country, we nominate a wrong person just because he has a tribal tag and Christianity as his religion. What guarantee is there that just because he is a tribal, he would work for the tribals and do good to them? We have made too many blunders in choosing our leaders and do you seriously believe that someone like P A Sangma who is the sitting MLA of Tura, who couldn’t handle such a small town like Tura has the capacity to handle such a big post? Wake up people for once before committing another blunder!
Yours etc.,
T Marak,
Tura