SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma lambasted the deserters in the Congress and warned people to be cautious against “devils” withholding blessings from coming to the state.
Addressing a gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the medical college here, Sangma dared the deserters to resign from the post of MLA.
“If somebody has the courage, let them resign from the post of MLA,” Sangma said while responding to queries on Wednesday.
The statement comes a day after Comingone Ymbon resigned from the post of Power Minister earlier this week.
Besides Ymbon, other senior Congress leaders like Prestone Tynsong, Rowell Lyngdoh and others are set to join the Nationalist Peoples’ Party.
Sangma said the problem with the deserters is that they are not loyal to the people who elected them. “In doing so they have betrayed thousands of Congress workers in the state.”
When asked what he had to say about allegations of interference in various departments, Sangma said as per the procedure, when a minister is not in station, any important file will be kept on the chief minister’s table.
“We don’t wait for people who don’t come and attend office. The office of a Minister is an important one and it is an office held by a decision maker and policy maker. The larger good of the people has to be addressed,” he added.
Castigating the former power minster who accused Sangma of interfering in his department, the chief minister said, “What is the situation of the Power Department? Is it not bleeding?”
“When the Meghalaya Energy Corporation required funds and the Minister was absent from his post, should I not call a meeting. How much money is going out on a daily basis which is preventable, all because of interest repayment and because you are delaying some decision,” an annoyed Sangma added.
However, to a query, he said he did not regret giving the Cabinet berth to Ymbon since people know that he was given an opportunity but he still left.
When asked about accusations of corruption by political parties, Sangma said these are manifestations of anger and frustration and he can only respond by taking them to court as a result of which some have even withdrawn their statements.
As he reiterated that the Congress would emerge as the single largest party in 2018 with 40 seats, Sangma warned the electorate by citing from the scriptures, “Blessings get withheld and blessings will get withheld if you allow devils to vitiate the environment. So let this blessed state and people be not subjected to become victims of devils.”
He was referring to the challenges faced by the government since 2013 which have diverted its focus instead of bringing more development to the state and its people.
Without naming anyone, Sangma said, “If somebody is breeding the seed of hatred whose agents are they? Are they going to do good to mankind?”
Referring to issues, including the inner-line permit (ILP), he said people are talking about ILP again.
“We have already embarked upon all initiatives to deal with ILP-related challenges. But somebody is trying to whip it up again. I share with deep pain in my heart that in this state every time people have tried to engage in futile activities by diverting and vitiating the environment, the people and the state have suffered,” he added.
According to Sangma, there are some forces that are even dividing the Khasi and Jaintia communities on the basis of “faith”.
“The trend is happening in the country and the same has infiltrated in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills and it is more in Jaintia Hills,” he said.
“These forces are aggressively working 24×7 by invoking negative forces to divide our people,” he said.
He also rued how people claiming to love the nation and the state afford to divide the people.
