SHILLONG: The UPA’s nominee for presidential election, Meira Kumar on Wednesday said that voice of people’s conscience carried more weightage than numbers in her electoral battle for the President’s post.
Addressing the legislators of Meghalaya at the Annex hall of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly here, Meira Kumar said that this was the first time in the history of the country that the Presidential Election had been turned into a battle of ideology.
The meeting was attended mostly by MLAs including those from the ruling Congress, United Democratic Party (UDP) and few independent candidates.
Three of the Cabinet Ministers and Congress leaders – Roshan Warjri, Ampareen Lyngdoh and Prestone Tynsong and the three MPs from the state – Lok Sabha members, Vincent Pala (Congress) and Conrad Sangma (NPP) and Rajya Sabha member, Wansuk Syiem (Congress) did not attend the meeting addressed by Meira Kumar.
Legislators from two regional opposition political parties Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and National People’s Party (NPP) stayed away from the meeting
The opposition’s presidential candidate expressed happiness over the announcement of support to her candidature made by the leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya Assembly, Donkupar Roy and stated that the Opposition leader should be emulated by his counterparts in other states too.
Informing that 17 major national political parties in the country have taken the decision to contest the presidential election based on their sacred ideology , she lamented that an atmosphere had been created in the country , which was now threatening to disrupt the social fabric and social harmony .
“The atmosphere is challenging. It is putting the communal harmony, social justice, transparency and that entire have we have stood for in grave danger ,” she added.
Meira Kumar added that India was a vast country characterized by diverse cultures, ethnicity and ways of life but now attempts were being made to communalise the atmosphere in the name of religion, food habit and way of life.
“They (Central Government) are trying to distance themselves and no action is visible on the ground against disruptive forces, “she added.
Stating that she is contesting the presidential election on the basis of sacred ideology which people of the country represents, Kumar told the legislators and MPs to seize the opportunity of a rare occasion meant for creating history by acting in the best interest of the country that is to make it more progressive for the future generations.
Later, speaking to reporters, she said that attempts of polarising people in the name of religion would spell disaster for the country and a great country like India would be relegated into darkness.
Asked if the Modi wave would wipe out the Gandhian ideals in the elections, she said that the Gandhian thoughts had influenced the hearts and souls of the people throughout the world and no one could replace it.