SHILLONG: The late P.A. Sangma, a multifaceted personality and visionary brought out innovative ideas and radical opinions on varied subjects confronting the State and the country.
As per his book A life in politics, selected speeches and lecturers 1979-2004, released in 2012, as early as 1979, Sangma had mooted the idea of formation of smaller states.
According to Sangma, if the cause of the tribals were to be served, formation of smaller states, in those areas where scheduled castes and scheduled tribes were prominent, was a solution since this would help people run administration better.
In the context of formation of Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and others, the idea which Purno propagated assumes significance.
Warning to national parties
Sangma had warned that if the national parties failed to respond to the people, the regional aspirations will develop, and this will pave way for the mushrooming of regional parties in several parts of the country.
Many regional parties have since formed governments in several states in the country bearing testimony to Purno’s foresight.
Unique identity cards
to Indians
It was in 2005 that Purno mooted the idea of issuing unique identity cards to the genuine citizens of India instead of foreigners to differentiate Indians from illegal migrants and foreigners.
Purno suggested this in the Lok Sabha while participating in an adjournment motion on massive immigration from Bangladesh.
According to Sangma, the Citizenship Act should be amended instead of going for amendment of Foreigners Act to protect the rights of genuine citizens of India so that they would not have to face any fear psychosis. He had said that identity cards should be issued to Indians so that no policemen will go and question Indians.
This suggestion was materialized with the Centre initiating the unique identification drive through Aadhaar.
PM should be elected
Sangma believed that the Prime Minister should be elected by the Lok Sabha and he should not be from Rajya Sabha.
According to Sangma, the Prime Minister of the country should be from the Lok Sabha and he should be elected by the House and subsequently the President can appoint him.
He advocated the need to amend the Constitution so that the Prime Minister can be directly elected by the Lok Sabha.
He was critical of nominated members from Rajya Sabha holding the post of Prime Minister.
Repeal of AFSPA favoured
Sangma was critical about the implementation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and raised before Parliament on several occasions the need to repeal the Act quoting the report of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee.
According to Sangma, the Act has failed to fulfill its objectives, as it has become a symbol of state domination and depression. He feared that the Act would further alienate the people of the North East.
Golden Jubilee of Independence
Sangma, who was the then Lok Sabha Speaker, convened a special session of both Houses of Parliament from August 26 to September 1, 1997 as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of India’s Independence. For the first time, the Speaker stressed the need for a second freedom struggle for the country to put an end to India’s internal contradictions such as poverty in the midst of prosperity and plenty of resources against their proper utilization.
Earlier, due to Sangma’s intervention, the recording of one of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s speeches in the Parliament during the midnight sitting on August 14-15 was also included which was praised by the whole House. Initially only the recordings of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru were planned.
