TURA: NPP candidate and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma has attacked the Mukul Sangma government in Meghalaya for the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“In just 9 months’ time from January to September, 2013, as many as 132 lives have been lost, there have been 106 kidnappings and 151 rapes in the state. Where is the protection for the people? What is Mukul Sangma Government doing?” he asked, brandishing a copy of a statement on law and order placed by the state government in the assembly, while addressing an election rally at Raksamgre village on Sunday.
He also renewed his attack on a nexus between politicians and militants, accusing the chief minister of having a nexus with militants and read out from a letter allegedly written by ANVC-B political affairs leader Ajaju R Marak to Dr Mukul Sangma which was published by the media in January.
He accused the Meghalaya Chief Minister of failing to provide security for the people of his own home constituency in Ampati where, he said, traders were compelled to close shop before dark due to fear of attacks from militants and criminals.
“For any development to take place security of the people is a priority. But the chief minister is not even able to provide that in his own constituency of Ampati which is why all business activities come to a close before sun down,” said the former Lok Sabha speaker during his poll campaign in West Garo Hills. “Visit Ampati and you will see the reality of the situation. There is fear after dark.”
Calling upon militants to shun the path of violence he told the crowds at Tikrikilla, Raksamgre, Williampur and Paham that he decided to take up the Garoland cause because statehood could never be achieved from violence but peoples’ participation.
“The voice of the people is most powerful and the shout for Garoland will have to be heard in the halls of Parliament,” said Purno while citing the recent creation of Telengana state without any bloodshed. But, in Nagaland, an armed uprising for 68 long years could not deliver a separate identity for the Nagas.
He is facing a political battle from two different fronts- his opponent Daryl William Cheran Momin of the Congress and Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
While Daryl is the new face of the youth in the party representing the oldest political family of the state, Purno’s bete noire Meghalaya chief minister is criss-crossing the Garo Hills countryside garnering support for the young candidate.