New Delhi, July 2: Presidential aspirant Purno A. Sangma got a tongue lashing from Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma who called him a “rogue element” for playing the tribal and religious cards.
The chief minister said the President represented the country and not a particular state, community or religion. “Has he (P.A. Sangma) engaged himself to get the mandate of the tribals? He has started claiming that he is a representative of Christians. Are we dividing our country on religious lines?” asked Mukul, addressing reporters at the Press Club of India here today.
Mukul said India was not governed by individuals and if the country were to be divided on the lines of community and religion, there would be chaos.
The two Garo leaders have been foes in Meghalaya’s Garo hills where they fought many battles for state leadership.
Mukul, a doctor by training, is now firmly entrenched as a Congress leader, while the former Lok Sabha Speaker is vying for Rashtrapati Bhavan despite the heavy odds against him.
While Purno Sangma challenged Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature today by alleging the latter’s chairmanship in an office of profit, his own chances from the Northeast and his home state seemed bleak.
Mukul said if one were to see the presidential race vis-à-vis Sangma’s contribution in light of his claim as a tribal leader, a visit to Garo hills would make things clear. “He cannot behave like a rogue element,” he added.
The Meghalaya chief minister said Sangma had failed to make any difference to the lives of tribal people across the country, in the Northeast or in his own state. “Come to Meghalaya and we will show you what he has done for his constituency. Forget about the constituency, visit his village and see how much development he has brought there,” Mukul said. “There is no reason really to rally around him.”
Conrad Sangma, leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly and the Purno Sangma’s son, said from Meghalaya the chief minister was insulting the people of Garo hills by saying nothing was done by Sangma. “Mukul Sangma is insulting the Garo hills people’s wisdom by suggesting that Purno Sangma had done nothing, though people voted for him a dozen times,” Conrad said over phone. “But he (Mukul) has the freedom to say whatever he likes. I have nothing against him.”
Terming P.A. Sangma as the most privileged politician of the Northeast to whom everyone looked up to in times of need, Mukul said the NCP leader had disappointed all.
He said political parties sustained the Indian democracy and Sangma was in a senior position in such a party — the Congress. “Unfortunately, he has the habit of leaving the party he belongs to very often,” the chief minister said.
Asked about Agatha Sangma’s position, Mukul struck a cautious note but made it amply clear what was on his mind. “You should ask that to the NCP leadership,” he said, asked whether Agatha’s continued presence in the UPA was justified.
Sangma’s candidature for presidency has not been met with enthusiasm in the Northeast, where most governments are Congress-led.
Mukherjee, however, is in for a warm welcome when he visits Guwahati for campaigning on July 6.
In another development, Swami Agnivesh today prodded Sangma to be true to his tribal brethren and immediately visit Bijapur district of Chattisgarh, where a fake encounter by CRPF was reported, and assess the atrocities being committed against tribals.
