SHILLONG, March 2: Rajya Sabha member, WR Kharlukhi on Wednesday said Rakesh A Sangma had quit as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as the National People’s Party-led (NPP) Meghalaya Democratic Alliance listened to the voices of the people of Garo Hills region.
Sangma had resigned on “moral grounds” in the wake of a series of protests against his promotion to the post.
Recently, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma was greeted with back flags and sloganeering by the protestors. His party, NPP, was also condemned.
“Our Chief Minister, who is a firm believer of democratic values, listened to the voices of the people. As a result, people were rejoicing by marching through the streets of Tura on the evening of February 28,” Kharlukhi, who is also the NPP state president, told The Shillong Times.
He recalled two incidents that took place about a decade ago in Tura and Williamnagar when students, staging protests against “careless attitude and mismanagement of power”, had to face bullets.
“Five youth were killed in Tura and four in Williamnagar as a result of police firing,” Kharlukhi said.
He said if the trouble surrounding the MDC’s promotion as the CEM was allowed to turn into a big issue, it would have been like the opening of the old wounds inflicted by former chief minister Mukul Sangma on the people of Garo Hills.
The NPP had earlier said the protests surrounding Rakesh A Sangma’s promotion were politically-motivated. MLA and NPP spokesperson, Marcuise N Marak had alleged people were being misled on the issue.
He had dismissed the perception the All India Trinamool Congress is gaining ground in the Garo Hills region due to all of this.
