SHILLONG, July 7: Firing salvo at Chief Minister Conrad Sangma over the recent announcement of upgrading Mairang Civil Sub Division into a district, Leader of the Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma has termed the move as an attempt to retain the chief minister’s post.
“We see that the chief minister has embarked on the upgradation of the district because he knows he is shaky and it is his exercise to ensure that he can sit longer in the chair of the chief minister,” Mukul alleged.
The Opposition leader underlined that Meghalaya needs more districts apart from Mairang such as Sohra and Daddengre, while adding that the move of upgrading only Mairang is a “childish” approach.
Even a layman knows that it is a political quid pro quo, Mukul stated.
Mukul Sangma said that during his tenure, the district of East Garo Hills was created and two areas were carved out of a big chunk so that the government is able to take care of the people more efficiently.
Stating that any exercise for upgrade of a civil sub division should be based on exhaustive due diligence, Mukul said that the decision should not be taken to please somebody, maintaining that the government needs to take into consideration the entire state and look into the ground reality.
Claiming that West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills districts have huge constraints but the previous government went ahead to create districts so as to tide over logistics as well as other challenges.
Pointing out that the state faces challenges with regard to interstate and international borders, the Opposition leader said that such decisions should not be based on ‘petty politics’ but on ground realities and the needs.
“When we gave Mawshynrut Civil Sub Division, did we ask the MLA there to merge with us like what NPP did with MM Danggo? These decisions are guided by petty politics and the desire to remain in chair,” Mukul added.
