By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary on Thursday questioned whether detained GNLA chairman Champion R Sangma should be allowed to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in 2013, considering that a number of criminal cases are pending against him.
“Technically, unless you are convicted you are not barred from contesting the election. But with Champion, the situation is totally different,” Mooshahary said on the sidelines of a programme on Thursday.
According to Mooshahary, Champion cannot claim innocence until the court gives its verdict.
Reacting to a query on the GNLA chairman announcing his support to the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly elections, the Governor said, “I really don’t know what is in his mind. I don’t belong to any political party and will not be able to tell whether he is supporting the Congress or some other party.”
The Governor also brushed aside a query on the reason behind the Government’s reluctance to book the GNLA chairman under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA), saying that it is the job of the law enforcing agencies to decide on the matter.
Mooshahary, however, admitted that the situation in Garo Hills was volatile, while adding that the Government needs to do much more to contain militancy in that region.