NONGPOH: Terming the Congress-led government headed by Dr Mukul Sangma as one of the most corrupt and dictatorial governments, the National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad K Sangma has expressed confidence of coming power in the state the Assembly election in 2018 as most of the present Congress leaders and the people of the state are fed up with present government.
Sangma was addressing a public meeting of the NPP after the inaugural function of NPP District & Block Committee office at Nongpoh on Monday.
He also lambasted the `dictatorial rules’ of Dr Mukul Sangma by terming him as the most corrupt chief minister who, he said, would be arrested if the NPP came to power after the next year’s state assembly polls.
Other top leaders of the NPP including National General Secretary, Vivek Raj Wangkhen, Dadengre MLA and the opposition Chief Whip James K Sangma, NPP candidates for the 2018 assembly polls from Ri Bhoi, C B Syiem (Nongpoh), Dasakhiatbha Lamare (Mawhati), Sosthenes Sohtun (Jirang) and other state leaders of the party attended the function here.
Conrad K Sangma also honoured the veteran Congress leader who is also the former chief minister of Meghalaya, Dr D D Lapang for all the contributions and good works he has done not just for the people of Nongpoh or Ri Bhoi but to the whole state of Meghalaya.
The recent announcement of three senior Congress leaders, Prof R C Laloo, Roshan Warjri and Dr DD Lapang to opt out of contesting the next state election as well as the exodus of four sitting MLA of the Congress party has a significant message for the people of the state, Conrad said, adding “The message that Dr Lapang is giving to all of us is not that he is not contesting but is that he feels humiliated. He is giving the message that he has had enough of being under the leadership of Dr Mukul Sangma. The message he is giving us is that he cannot continue to be in the Congress party under a leader like Dr Mukul Sangma who has time and again humiliated our great leader (Dr DD Lapang)” Conrad Sangma said.
Conrad further claimed that the NPP was getting stronger day-by-day and many legislators from other North Eastern states, who have met him at Delhi recently, were also willing to join the party soon.
Conrad also clarified on the allegations that NPP is the alliance of BJP saying that the two parties have different constitutions and ideologies which cannot be compromised, adding that as a responsible party which dedicates and fights for the rights of the tribal and minorities they should work hand-in-hand with the ruling party at the Central Government, be it BJP, Trinamool or other parties for the best interest and development of the people.
He also informed that he was continuing with the fight for the right of the people of state in the Parliament. He said because of his intervention, the 12% GST tax which was introduced last year on broom by the Central Government, was reduced to zero as Meghalaya is the largest (more than 80 %) exporter of broom in the country.
“We will make sure that corrupt Dr Mukul Sangma will be the first ever Chief Minister of the state to get arrested if NPP comes to power after 2018 Assembly polls because of his misdeeds” sitting MDC from Nongkrem, HS Shylla said lashing out at the Congress leader.
He also said that the forming of various agencies which collect and divert funds from various Government Departments is like a day light robbery which Dr Mukul Sangma should be accounted for.
Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip, James K Sangma said that the NPP would emerge victorious in not less than 15 seats only in Garo Hills in the 2018 assembly polls, adding that in order to have a Khasi Chief Minister, the party should work hard and ensure win in more than 15 seats from Khasi and Jaintia hills.
Other leaders of the party who also spoke on the function lashed out at dictatorial Dr Mukul Sangma, who doesn’t even have respect for senior leaders like Dr DD Lapang and others.