SHILLONG: Former ANVC-B chairman Bernard Marak has criticised John Leslee for calling NPP candidate for Tura Lok Sabha seat Agatha Sangma ‘Nilmoni’ and called him “zero performing father”.
Marak, who announced his decision to support Sangma in a statement issued on Saturday, said Leslee betrayed people of Tura and so he was replaced with Conrad Sangma.
“I being an elector from South Tura am very disappointed with Leslee’s non-performance during his tenure. The MLA schemes were sanctioned only to his drivers and helpers,” he said.
Marak said the former MLA has made a negative impact on the Congress camp with his comment. “If Agatha is ‘Nilmoni’ as he claimed, John Leslee is ‘Nilpa’ (zero performing father). There is a story why Leslee is nick named ‘Dagrangpa’ (bully) by South Tura voters… People have already chosen who should lead them,” he added.
Marak referred to an RTI on MLA schemes that had revealed that Leslee sanctioned most of the schemes in the name of Augustine and Tom, “who are his close aides”.
“The CGI sheets were partially issued to beneficiaries and most of the CGIs did not reach the public. There are ghost community halls which were never constructed but amount were withdrawn,” he added.
Marak’s statement said Sangma should be given a chance to prove her ability “which I am sure she will do”.
“My support to her candidature is decided after evaluating the hate speeches delivered by the oppositions but in spite of that, she has shown her maturity by not engaging herself in criticising other candidates. Her positivity has shown a new light of leadership in this time of crisis,” he said.
