Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Sangma dropped a bombshell, charging Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of the ruling Congress party of being the man behind militant organizations in Meghalaya and called him “the common chairman” of these groups.
In a press conference convened at the National People’s Party (NPP) office here, Purno, who is the NPP president, said: “who is the chairman of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Achik National Volunteer’s Council (ANVC) and ANVC-B (breakaway faction)? Mukul (Sangma) is the common chairman of all these militant groups.”
Purno’s charge against the Meghalaya Chief Minister assumes significance because the “political secretary” of the ANVC-B, Ajaju R Marak in a statement to the local media recently accused Mukul of maintaining a close relationship with militant groups to further his political career.
Marak claimed that the Meghalaya Chief Minster sought the help of Rimpu Marak, chairman of the ANVC-B, to quell rebellion within the Congress who tried to upstage him from the CM’s chair last year and also attack his detractors.
Immediately, the opposition demanded that a CBI probe into the serious allegations and the United Democratic Party said that it would meet the President, Prime Minister and the Home Minister and demand their intervention on the issue.
Purno also demanded a CBI inquiry or a probe by the NIA and also added that the party would meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister and leaders of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to “put on record the serious nature of the allegations” against the Chief Minister.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister, in the meanwhile, called a press conference and rubbished the allegation and said that “vested interest” groups were working against him to tarnish his image, but nonetheless admitted that some politicians do maintain links with militant organization in the State and the matter is being probed.
“Criminalization and corruption are the two worst enemies of Indian democracy and the country is therefore debating on electoral reform, but in Meghalaya it’s shameful that the Chief Minister himself is involved with militant groups,” Purno said.
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He further accused that because of the Chief Minister’s closeness with militant organizations the law and order situation in Garo Hills has deteriorated. “The Home ministry in its report has said that the law and order situation in Garo Hills is one of the worst in the country and the Chief Minister is responsible for it by maintaining links with militant organizations.”
Purno further lashed out at the Chief Minister for extending the tenure of the Garo Hill Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months after succumbing to the pressure of a militant organization, the ANVC. “The Government of Meghalaya has lost its independent authority and surrendered to militants,” he added.
The State Government has extended the tenure of the GHADC to see through a tripartite peace pact signed between the ANVC, state and central government last year.
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