By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a bizarre incident, former Rajya Sabha MP, Robert Kharshiing who has been ailing at Nazareth Hospital, called a press conference inside his super deluxe room here on Thursday and made statements that could have far reaching consequences for Meghalaya should they materialise.
Kharshiing expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the State and claimed that he has now joined the Congress Party and would soon become the Chief Minister of Meghalaya.
Kharshiing said he would be convening a meeting of MLAs on Friday to plan the formation of the new Government which he will name the “Congress-led All Party Government.”
“I am going to form the Government with the support of 45-52 MLAs,” he said even as he claimed that he had already got the blessings of AICC bigwigs to do so. He also invited the incumbent Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma to work with him.
Kharshiing said he would reach out to Congress, UDP, HSPDP and other parties and said the NPP had already expressed its willingness to be a part of the Government
The former MP said he had written to the Chief Minister to appoint him as the mediator between the NGOs and the State Government over the issue of ILP to diffuse the tension and bring normalcy in the state
“I sent the proposal on September 2 but till date I have not got an acknowledgement. The State is burning but is the CM waiting for people to be killed?” Kharshiing fulminated.
The former MP said he has already forwarded a letter to the Congress to join the party.
“If I become the CM, I will constitute a Chief Minister’s Advisory Council which will have Chief Secretary WMS Pariat as member secretary, and one chairperson from the ten NGOs who will be given the rank of a Cabinet Minister. I will also take the views of various religious groups, NGOs and MLAs on the matter,” Kharshiing told media persons.
He also said that the latecomers in his proposed Government would not be accommodated even if they are big leaders.
Kharshiing informed that he has submitted a petition to Governor Dr KK Paul demanding a CBI inquiry into the ST status of Dr Sangma and demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister pending inquiry.
“He is a fake tribal and this is one of the biggest crimes in India,” he told reporters.
The proposed meeting to be held on Friday, he said, would also discuss the issue of ST status of the Chief Minister.
“After my swearing in there will be no more agitations in Meghalaya and all those who have been arrested now will be released at my orders and I will make Meghalaya the best state of the country,” Kharshiing concluded.
Media persons were not allowed to counter question him as he tried to parry off each question and seemed to be in a state of restlessness.
What is also not understood is how a press conference could have been held inside a hospital room where at least 20 press people were present. Visitors of patients in adjoining rooms looked with disapproval of the melee caused by the presence of so many media persons.