GHADC elections: Mukul assured of similar fate
TURA: Tura MP and NPP president Purno A Sangma had an unpleasant experience during a campaign for party candidate Grahambell A Sangma at Dadenggre town on Monday when a group of protesters, mostly belonging to NGOs/pressure groups, took out a procession carrying black flags and banners questioning the alleged non-fulfillment of promises to the area.
The veteran politician, who was also the former Lok Sabha Speaker, was holding a campaign rally at Dadenggre public playground when a group of protesters marched from the market area towards the venue seeking answers to the problems faced by the region.
GSU Western Zone (North) president, Rupa Marak while speaking to The Shillong Times said that the protest was undertaken by members of NGOs/pressure groups including the GSU, FKJGP, FAF among others.
“Our protest was to remind him (Purno Sangma) of his promises made to the area. In 2007 when the Dadenggre Puri Government Higher Secondary School was inaugurated he promised to establish a college in the town. Again, in last year’s terrible floods that devastated Garo Hills the main wooden bridge connecting Dadenggre sub-division to the town was washed away.
“At that time he had said that a mechanized (Bailey) bridge similar to the one the army installs in areas where there are no bridges was being brought to Dadenggre. That bridge never reached us,” said Marak.
He also denied reports that the protesters had disrupted the public meeting as alleged by some.
“We came and sat at his public meeting and only wanted to remind him of his unfilled promises. We will do the same when Chief Minister Mukul Sangma comes,” he said.
The National People’s Party, meanwhile, has downplayed the incident alleging that political opponents were behind Monday’s protest display.
“Some Congress workers in the guise of NGO members tried to disrupt the meeting of P A Sangma by showing black flags. The meeting went ahead and he carried on with his speech uninterrupted. Reports claiming otherwise are totally exaggerated,” said Dadenggre MLA James Pangsang K Sangma.
As campaigning reaches the peak this week, ahead of next Monday’s polls, candidates and parties have been walking the extra mile to try and get their message across to the electorate.