From Our Correspondent
TURA: The leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma has lashed out against the ruling Congress party accusing it of shielding and rewarding politicians allegedly involved in corruption.
The senior Sangma has asked the people of Garo Hills to vote out the oldest political party from the State during a public rally held at Dadenggre constituency of West Garo Hills on Tuesday morning.
The veteran politician’s son James Pangsang K Sangma is contesting from the Dadenggre constituency.
Accusing the Congress of failing to take action on corrupt leaders, he alleged that the ruling party’s decision to allot a ticket to Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) chief executive member was evidence of those corrupt being shielded.
The GHADC CEM Purno K Sangma is contesting on a Congress ticket against P A Sangma’s son James from the Dadenggre constituency.
“When he (Purno) was the CEM during the tenure of our then NCP led executive committee in the council we had dropped him over corruption charges. But when the Congress returned to form the Council EC he was reinstated as CEM. Does this not show that the Congress endorses corrupt leaders?” questioned the senior P A Sangma at the public rally as supporters clapped their hands in endorsement of his speech.
Further lashing out at the Congress P A Sangma said that the current government had failed to look into people’s problems and claimed that the current developmental projects being taken out were those which were already cleared by the then Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government of Dr Donkuper Roy of which his party was a coalition partner.
The former Union Minister who has represented Tura in parliament for over three and a half decades said that the time has come to give a chance for new leaders to take over the leadership of the state. He mentioned the emerging leaders particularly Rajya Sabha MP Thomas A Sangma, his own daughter Agatha K Sangma and sons Conrad and James, and a series of his own party MLAs including Williamnagar MLA Marcuise Marak, Kharkutta’s Omillo K Sangma, Siju-Rongara candidate and sitting MLA from Baghmara Satto R Marak and his own nephew and Salmanapara candidate Boston Marak.
“Just as Late Captain Williamson A Sangma gave the leadership mantle to me many years ago, I too feel it is time for me to hand it down to the new generation and give them the training and exposure they deserve,” concluded P A Sangma at the Dadenggre rally.