UDP to raise Mukul Sangma’s ‘militant nexus’ with president, PM

Shillong, Jan 13 :

Meghalaya’s opposition United Democratic Party Monday said it will seek to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urge dismissal of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, whom it accused of having a nexus with a militant outfit.

“We have decided to seek an audience with the president, prime minister and leaders of opposition in both houses of parliament to demand the dismissal of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for his tacit and unholy nexus with a militant outfit,” UDP spokesman Paul Lyngdoh told journalists.

He said Sangma’s alleged nexus with the A’chik National Volunteers Council-B (ANVC-B) is a national issue since it has far-reaching implications on the fragile political and security scenario in the northeastern region.

“We will also seek the support of the North East Regional Political Parties Front (an umbrella of regional political parties) to expose the nexus and the danger of having a leader with deep rooted connection with militants which is a threat to the rule of law in Meghalaya and will lead to subversion of the constitution,” Lyngdoh said after the party’s political affairs committee meeting.

On Jan 10, the ANVC-B, a splinter group of the ANVC which has been observing a tripartite ceasefire with the central and Meghalaya governments, had alleged that its chairman Rimpu Marak had a role in ensured Sangma remained chief minister when there was a tussle for power in his previous term.

Calling it unprecedented that the office of the chief minister has been mired in such controversy, the UDP demanded that Sangma should step down to facilitate a fair and impartial probe and also sought a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

(IANS)