SHILLONG: Former Rajya Sabha member Robert Kharshiing has criticized Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma for the current impasse over the demand for implementation of ILP in the State and has sought for his removal.
Briefing media persons here on Thursday, Kharshiing said that all former chief ministers had always been quick to negotiate and come to a mutually acceptable settlement with various NGOs but this was not the case with Dr Mukul Sangma.
“I am shocked and saddened that the Chief Minister has said that there will be no more negotiations until the NGOs withdraw their agitation and now he is setting up a Special Court to try them,” he told reporters.
“The Chief Minister is setting up a Special Court to try those who are neither terrorists nor hardened criminals,” he said.
“Proud, corrupt and arrogant politicians with their dictatorial and draconian attitude have turned peaceful states into insurgency-ridden ones,” he added, while mentioning that as Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma should be like a ‘father to his own children’ and not behave like an enemy.
“Neither the British did it before Independence nor the Assam Government did it during the Hill State Movement when the tribal people of Meghalaya wanted their own State and even the Government of India did not do this to Anna Hazare,” Kharshiing said.
“Until ‘this’ Chief Minister came in, Meghalaya was the most peaceful State,” Kharshiing said while appealing to the High Court of Meghalaya and Governor Dr. KK Paul to make the Chief Minister realize that a negotiated political settlement through respectful discussions is always the best way forward and not by using force or the Courts.
According to Kharshiing, “The Chief Minister is quoting the Supreme Court without realizing that we are a special border tribal State who were largely independent before the British came with our own customary laws which have existed for thousands of years.”
“I believe this Chief Minister needs to be changed and a new Chief Minister from within the Congress should be chosen who will be willing to negotiate,” Kharshiing said, while clarifying that he was not trying to topple the Government but was only attempting to change the leader who is not willing to negotiate and compromise with the NGOs for the sake of peace and harmony in the State.
Kharshiing also informed that his earlier plans to join the Congress had been blocked by the Chief Minister.
‘CM’s tactics suicidal’
Meanwhile, UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh stated that it is ‘suicidal’ on the part of the Chief Minister to adopt a confrontational attitude.
“The State at the moment badly needs quality governance,” Lyngdoh asserted.