in the city on Thursday. (UB)
SHILLONG: Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma for his alleged nexus with militant outfit ANVC-B, National People’s Party (NPP) supremo and arch rival of the Congress, Purno A Sangma on Thursday termed the Chief Minister as ‘the common chairman of all militant outfits operating in the State’.
Addressing a press conference here after the state executive committee meeting of the party, Purno Sangma said, “Who is the chairman of GNLA, ANVC and ANVC-B? He (Mukul Sangma) is the common chairman of all these militant groups.”
Stating that criminalization of politics and corruption are the worst enemies of democracy and society, Purno said there cannot be any better example of criminalization of politics than the fact that ‘our Chief Minister himself gets involved with militants’.
The NPP chief also said that a delegation under his leadership will meet the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and Leaders of Opposition of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to apprise them about the present law and order situation in the State and the nexus between the Chief Minister and the ANVC-B.
“By mid-May there will be a new Government in New Delhi and the new Government will take cognizance of our petition,” he said.
Condemning the alleged nexus between Dr Mukul Sangma and militant outfits, the NPP president demanded that Dr. Mukul Sangma should step down immediately and a CBI or an NIA inquiry should be initiated into the alleged nexus.
“The ANVC-B statement is very clear on who was the mastermind behind the attack on Deborah Marak and Saleng Sangma and also the kidnapping of NCP MDCs, besides plotting to ensure the defeat of Billykid Sangma in the election,” Purno stated.
On the peace pact with ANVC-B, the former Lok Sabha Speaker alleged that the MUA Government is acting on the pressure of militants. “The Government has literally surrendered to militants,” he said.
Sangma lamented that while the GHADC is being armed with more powers, the KHADC and the JHADC are being ignored. Whatever is being signed in the pact with regards to the GHADC should automatically be applicable to the KHADC and the JHADC, he added.
Alleging that ANVC-B has a separate identity, Purno questioned how the outfit had been invited for negotiations by the State Government.
“The Meghalaya Government has mislead the Union Government and they are illegally and unconstitutionally inviting ANVC-B for talks,” Purno said, while reminding that the ULFA has two factions but the Assam Government is holding talks with only one faction.
“It is neither the Constitution nor the law, but only the wish of the Chief Minister that applies in Meghalaya,” Purno claimed.
The NPP leader also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills and lamented that as per the Union Home Ministry’s report, Garo Hills figures as the region worst affected by law and order problems.
Purno recalled an incident where he had gone to meet a Hajong family whose three members had been killed in insurgency related incidents in Garo Hills and was told by the family members that ‘Garo Hills is facing the worst situation in terms of law and order under the present Chief Minister as compared to the days of Capt. WA Sangma, BB Lyngdoh, PA Sangma, DD Lapang and SC Marak.”