By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 2: Days after the ‘flood jihad’ barb by his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma at the proprietor of University of Science and Technology-Meghalaya (USTM), Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said he is averse to the idea of divisive politics.
“I can’t stand divisive politics. You can ask anybody in this room who has worked closely with me…In fact, whenever we sit for any kind of meeting, you would be happy to know that we ensure we say ‘what about this area, region or these particular people?” Sangma said addressing the 12th foundation day of the NPP, of which he is the national president.
It now remains to be seen if he makes any statement against Sarma who has been continuously making remarks allegedly targeting a particular community. The Assam CM had accused USTM of resorting to “flood jihad”.
Sangma said the NPP believes in positive politics unlike many other individuals, people’s groups and parties who believe in dividing the society, and the divide and rule policy.
He advised his party leaders and members to be humble.
“Be kind and humble to the people for whom you are here to serve and work, and don’t let power and position ever dictate the way you behave with the citizens of our state, especially the poor and the downtrodden. A simple handshake and smile from you and 30 seconds of your time will take away 50% of the tension the person is going through,” said Sangma.
During the foundation day event, the 77th birth anniversary of NPP founder Purno Agitok Sangma, which was on September 1, was also celebrated.
In his speech, NPP state president Prestone Tynsong expressed confidence that the party will win the upcoming bye-election to the Gambegre Assembly seat. He dismissed the speculation about many NPP leaders planning to desert the party as rumours.
“Let rumours continue but we know that if we are successful in the 2028 elections, we will go on to increase like how it has been over the past few years,” Tynsong said.
He claimed that the NPP-led government brought major projects and transformed Shillong. He said the government could also do something to resolve the state’s border dispute with Assam after previous governments always chose to maintain “status quo”.