The fast-unto-death led by Pynskhemlang Nongshlong to draw attention to the Meghalaya Government’s apathy to the problems faced by residents in the border villages at Langpih enters its 11th day today. The Congress-led MUA Government appears disconcerted at this point even though the issue is as old as the State itself. The fast-unto-death call couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Mukul Sangma Government. With Presidential elections round the corner and the State Assembly election due early next year, the Government finds itself between the proverbial ‘Devil and the Deep Sea’. Dr Sangma will need all the blessings of the UPA bosses to win the assembly elections. So he is going all out to woo the Centre and its new showpiece Pranab Mukherjee. On Friday last, captain Mukul led his team members to meet Pranab Mukherjee in Guwahati, during the latter’s two day visit to the region. That Pranab chose not to include Meghalaya in his itinerary is proof enough that Congress is assured of enough support from Meghalaya for its Presidential candidate.
Despite being hard-pressed due to the July 19 Presidential election, the State Government hurriedly put together a team led by Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh to visit Langpih to negotiate with the protesters. But HDR is not known for his negotiating skills. The meeting bombed! The protestors wanted a written assurance that the issue would be resolved. HDR demurred. What the State Government’s next move would be remains unclear but Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma is contemplating that next move.
Meanwhile, local NGOs of the State, even some of the hitherto unknown ones, surged into the limelight by announcing their unflinching support to the fast-unto-death call at Langpih. Interestingly the UDP which could have derived undue profit from the issue has failed to seize the moment. The party, which had earlier announced its support to Opposition candidate Purno A Sangma for the Presidential poll had received several feelers from Mukul Sangma to reconsider its decision and support Pranab. Mukul’s argument is that the Congress and the UDP are coalition partners and needed to project their alliance by supporting the UPA candidate. But the UDP remains adamant in its stand to support Purno Sangma.
UDP president Donkupar Roy could have bargained with the Congress over support to Pranab. The party could have wrested a promise from the Congress for a permanent settlement of the Langpih issue. This would have generated public support and empathy with the Party. The UDP did not consider this strategy earlier. Now that the party has publicly announced its support to Purno, the UDP seems to have missed the bus.