TURA: The most noticeable face of the north east in Delhi- Purno Agitok Sangma – launched his election campaign to return to Lok Sabha with a National Peoples’ Party ticket in a public meeting in a remote tribal dominated region of Adokgre, 150 kms from Tura, in North Garo Hills on Thursday morning.
Addressing a crowd of around 2,000 supporters, the veteran politican and former Lok Sabha Speaker blamed Congress chief minister Mukul Sangma for the ills plaguing Meghalaya, particularly Garo Hills.
“There is utter chaos and lawlessness in the state and Mukul is to blame. He is chief minister of Ampati and not Meghalaya,” said Purno Sangma, accusing the Congress leader of laying focus only on his home constituency while neglecting the rest of the state.
The NPP chief who sustained a leg injury while in Delhi was ferried in on a wheel chair to address the crowd.
He made light of the disability, remarking, “If Karunanidhi (DMK) can sit on a wheel chair and be an MP why can’t I campaign?”
Targetting Congress and its chief minister for the lawlessness plaguing the Garo Hills, he said “Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is shielding militants and allowing them to thrive. This has resulted in a rise in insurgency, law and order breakdown, kidnapping and killing. There is no governance in Meghalaya.”
He justified his return to national politics after a gap of over six long years terming it as the “need of the hour” and added that the situation in the state and Garo Hills had compelled him.
“There are many issues plaguing the north east but no one is bothered. I want to change all that,” said Purno.
Raising the issue of politician-militant nexus and fake encounters, Purno questioned the January 12th encounter in Daren Agal village near Tura in which four ANVC-B militants were shot dead by police under controversial circumstances.
“The encounter was planned by the government, as ANVC-B cadre Ajaju Marak dared to speak on Mukul’s link with the outfit. Why was the ANVC-B cadres not identified, why were their photos not released,” he questioned the Meghalaya government.
Calling upon the voters of Garo Hills to usher in change, he said, “The national mode is for change and people of Garo Hills have to decide what they want.”
A former chief minister of Meghalaya, Purno lashed out at Mukul Sangma accusing him of diverting funds which were meant for welfare programmes across Garo Hills solely for his constituency of Ampati.
In a lighter vein he said, “just as H D Deve Gowda was known as the PM of Karnataka and not India, so also Mukul Sangma will be known for being CM of Ampati and not Meghalaya.”
Going into national mode, Purno chided top Congress leaders for shying away from a contest in the general elections this time.
“Congress MPs are not willing to contest and some have even refused tickets, as they fear defeat,” said Purno and mentioned the names of top Congress leaders such as P Chidambaram, A K Anthony, C P Joshi, G K Vasant and others, who had refused to contest.
He also took on the Congress-led government for its failure to curb inflation. “Why do we need a government that has failed to curb price hike?”
He said in the last two tenure of the UPA, petrol price was hiked 22 times and onion became costlier than gold.
Sitting MP from Tura, Agatha Sangma, who accompanied her father said, “I have learnt that it is not easy for a newcomer to make things happen in Parliament. We need an experienced politician to represent Garo Hills and Northeast in New Delhi”.
She clarified that she had to vacate the seat for her love towards Garo hills, which needs a seasoned politician.
Purno has represented Tura seat since 1977 for eight consecutive terms. He returns to active politics after a gap of six and half years.
He decided to quit national politics in 2008 to contest Assembly election in Meghalaya. He is filing his nomination on Thursday in Tura. Mukul CM of Ampati, not Meghalaya; Purno
