Tura: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday branded National People’s Party candidate Purno Sangma as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. He took a dig at Purno “for making an attempt to fool the people of Garo hills.”
Launching a week-long campaign trail in Garo hills for the ensuing Tura Lok Sabha seat, Mukul addressed four rallies during the day, covering East, West and South Garo Hills district for the April 9 poll.
Terming all projections of BJP’s prospects as “hogwash,” the Chief Minister said, “Modi magic will not work. Congress will once again form the government at the Centre”.
He said, “Purno is drumming up support by saying that BJP and NDA will form the government. This is totally incorrect. He is doing so for his vested interests. Let me tell you, he (Purno) is an agent of BJP and is contesting the poll in NPP ticket to propagate the message of RSS. Perhaps, a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
Castigating Purno, he said, “If BJP is allowed to form the government, there will be a chaotic situation. BJP is guided by RSS and they believe in one religion. If that happens minorities in India will face a tough time”.
Dr Sangma wondered “how can Purno forget that when he was in Congress he opposed BJP policies and now leaning on them to woo votes.”
On Purno’s remark that “Mukul is CM of Ampati,” he clarified by saying, “Today development in visible across Meghalaya. I have ensured completion of major road connectivity in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills”.
He cited the instance of the much talked about Tura – Shillong route via Rongjeng and Nongstoin. On the argument that he was focusing only on his own constituency, Mukul asked: “Who has taken an initiative to set up medical and engineering colleges in Meghalaya?”
At all the campaign rallies in Songsak, Chokpot, Ashugre and Melliem, he justified the approach of the Congress government for a “holistic development in the state.”
On insurgency and delay in peace talk with A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), he termed the “unstable government” factor in Meghalaya as the prime reason.
“In 2004 suspension of operation was signed between ANVC, the State and the Centre. However, the settlement was delayed due to the failure of successive coalition governments in Meghalaya”, he said.
Expressing his commitment to resolve insurgency, he said, “We have inked an agreement for settlement with the ANVC in 2013, talks are in final stage. Today we have a stable government, we have the mandate. Our government has postponed the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election to facilitate a permanent solution to pave way for peace in Garo hills”.
Mukul harped on the stable Congress government factor for sustained growth of the state.
Highlighting development and flagship programmes, he urged voters to ensure that Congress candidate Daryl William Momin was elected to represent Garo hills in parliament.
He described Momin, grandson of Williamson Sangma, the founder chief minister of Meghalaya, as a prodigy. “Daryl has the DNA of politics, he is young, educated and has the capability to lead us. Congress has selected Momin because we believe in building a next generation youth leaders”. Lashing out at Purno, he said, “Purno is very ambitious. He had quit active politics saying that youths should be given space, when Agatha Sangma was fielded as Lok Sabha candidate. Now, he wants to return seeing that his party has failed to make a mark in the state politics. He thinks that he will get a cabinet berth in NDA government”. In 2013 assembly election, NPP won just two seats.
“When Purno decided to contest presidential election, he (Purno) did not think about his daughter, who was a cabinet minister,” the Chief Minister accused. “He quit NCP and launched NPP to contest the presidential election as NDA candidate. He failed in all his attempts. He is a desperate man and wants to take a last chance. He does not think about Garo hills or his children. If we vote for Purno, our vote is lost”.