Correspondent
Rubbishing the opposition Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) allegation that National People’s Party (NPP) cheated people of Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said that legislators from other political parties are rushing to join the NPP because of the trust the party shares with the masses.
“If we have cheated the people of the State, people would not be leaving their party and joining our party. They (opposition) need to question themselves and see what they are doing or what they have done,” Sangma said addressing the youth convention organized by the National People’s Youth Front (NPYF) here.
On the statement made by TMC legislator Lazarus Sangma that he (Conrad Sangma) will lose the South Tura assembly constituency, the NPP national president said, “Election is not easy. Don’t think you will win. Now that some people are saying that I will lose the election, I will work harder.”
Noting that the boundary agreement with Assam wasn’t easy, the Chief Minister said, “It was a very difficult decision but with sheer consultation with our colleagues, we took the bold decision and have moved forward to resolve the border issue.”
Clarifying on allegations that the state government has lost on the boundary deal to Assam, Sangma said, finalising the agreement was a challenge, but the matter needed an urgent closure.
“People of the state have waited for 50 long years. It was not the easiest decision but whatever we did was in the interest of the people of the State,” he said, adding that it was difficult for the government to negotiate with Assam as the previous state government had already submitted the list on the area of differences.
Sangma revealed the list of villages was prepared in 2011 during the tenure of then Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and if any villages were left out, it was not by our government but by him (Mukul Sangma.)
“He (Mukul) should have visited those villages in 2011 and not now and try to take political advantage of the situation. If you would have visited those villages in 2011, those villages would not have been left out,” the Chief Minister said.
On the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council’s decision to move the court over the boundary pact, Sangma said that those opposing the agreement now were also part of the part of the discussion.
Meanwhile, Sangma underscored the democratic participation of the youth in nation building.
He said the engagement of the youth is very crucial not just for political parties, but also for realising the larger goals of the state and the nation.
“Each individual has to work with a sense of purpose and intention. We have to have a vision and work to achieve the goal. As youth, we cannot be randomly working but with a concerted effort to achieve our goals,” Sangma said.
