MEGHALAYA DOES NOT WANT A "SINGING" CHIEF MINSTER

The war of words between the Sangmas got high-pitched today with Opposition Leader, Conrad Sangma saying, Meghalaya needs a responsible rather than a “singing Chief Minister.”

According to Conrad, Chief Minster Mukul Sangma was busy “singing and partying” even after ethnic riots broke out in Garo Hills, the opposition leader from the Nationalist Congress Party today accused.

Days after the ethnic riots broke out on January 1, Mukul was found in a party singing and didn’t accord the necessary importance to stump the violence, the opposition said.

Mukul is a known music fan and doesn’t shy away from handling the mike and has even a music album to his credit.

“The Chief Minster was partying and singing in Goiragiri (near Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills district) after ethnic riots broke out in East Garo Hills,” Conrad accused in a press meet today.

The ethnic violence has claimed the lives of five people, seven were seriously injured and many times that number fled their homes for safety.

Stating that Meghalaya can do without a “singing Chief Minster,” Conrad said, Mukul should have acted in a responsible manner in tackling the law and order situation than involve in parties at that crucial juncture.

“We don’t want a singing Chief Minster, but someone who takes his work responsibly,” Conrad hit back after Mukul yesterday said Union Minster for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma was defying the district administration’s advice and visiting disturbed areas that could inflame the fragile law and order situation.

Calling Mukul a “nervous Chief Minster,” Conrad said the he was shying away from visiting the affected district and displaced people so far and dared him to do so, as his sister and father (Agatha and Purno A Sangma - former Lok Sabha speaker) were doing.

He said, Agatha was visiting the affected people to help them, in her capacity as a legislator from Garo Hills and Union Minister and never defied the district administration’s advice.

The opposition leader said the Chief Minster should have called an all-party meeting to take everyone into confidence to tackle the situation. “He (Mukul) must have taken the initiative to solve the issue, instead he is indulging in blame game,” he added.