From Our Correspondent
TURA, July 10: The rounds of felicitation for the newly elected Tura MP, Saleng Sangma, continued through two more districts with the MP being the toast of huge crowds that gathered to see him in both Williamnagar on Tuesday and in Tura on Wednesday. Both events, as well as the felicitation in Resubelpara, saw huge crowds come to the venues to not only see but hear what the MP had to say.
In Tura, Saleng was joined on the dais by former minister Deborah Marak, former MP and MPCC president Vincent Pala, and former MLA SG Esmatur Mominin, who recently joined the Congress from the TMC.
Speaking at the gathering in Williamnagar, Saleng asserted that their work has just begun after 47 years of rule by (L) PA Sangma and his family.
Addressing the current situation at the Centre, Saleng stated that with the Opposition securing 236 seats, the Constitution had been saved.
“It is exciting to see MPs from Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam come forward to support and assist but sadly there is none from Garo Hills. I am happy that I now have a bigger platform to raise our problems. I could not speak my heart out in my first speech in Parliament due to the burning issue faced in Manipur, which needed a greater voice. Our MP from Manipur was denied permission to speak on the matter,” said Saleng.
He added that tribals and minorities were at the receiving end across the Northeast. “The BJP government is giving big talk about huge funding to the Northeast. But is it showing? Mainland India looks at us differently. We need to fight. We need to stand up and prove ourselves. In August, we plan to have another sitting to take on the perception that we are different,” he added.
Saleng had recently criticised the state government for its lackadaisical approach to the flood problems of Garo Hills and questioned what was being done to resolve it.
“Ministers have come and shown their solidarity but Meghalaya got zero when it came to funding to stop flooding,” he added, branding the state as the most corrupt in the country and faced with high drug abuse problems.
On the question of central schemes, Saleng advised villagers to keep note of the central schemes released in their areas and the work done or undone. “We will take it up in my meetings with the government. Disha meetings will be crucial to pinpoint and identify the loopholes. I am going to different departments in Delhi to see what is connected to our state and Garo Hills and am being greatly supported by former civil servants in Delhi,” added the Tura MP.
Saleng added that his victory was an eye-opener for the state government. “They have been jolted and are now beginning to work. Examples are the Rs 60 lakh sanction for Adokgre in NGH and the Rs 8 crore sanction for Mellim Road. Yesterday, the power minister visited my constituency to sanction a transformer. All this is happening because people stood against money power,” felt Saleng.
The Tura MP stated that he firmly believed that change in the health and education sectors of the state would come in the next election after the Congress comes back to power.
Earlier today, former MP Vincent Pala said that it was Saleng’s courage that prompted the Congress think tank to back him.
“None of us were sure but it was Saleng who came forward and told us he would win. The people of Garo Hills have repaid the faith that his courage and honesty has brought about. Garo Hills has given us an MP but we also want a Congress MLA from Garo Hills (referring to the upcoming Gambegre by-election),” said Pala.