TMEGHALAYA Chief Minister D D Lapang has alleged that the NCP leader P A Sangma’s link with militants has now been proved with the banned Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) openly backing him in the coming Lok Sabha polls. The issue of Sangma playing the role of a facilitator between the outfit and the Centre had led to acrimony last year with Lapang terming it as ‘’unauthorised’’. “His links with the militants have been proved now,” Mr. Lapang said and added Sangma would be held responsible for any kind of unlawful activities by the ANVC. “Law will take its own course,” he said hinting at action against the NCP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker. On whether the Centre had intimated him on the reported dialogue between it and the ANVC, Mr. Lapang replied in the negative. “But if the state government is sidelined, we will not allow this talk to happen.”

Whether he would complain to the Election Commission as ANVC had asked the people to vote for Sangma, the Chief Minister said since dates for Lok Sabha polls were not yet announced the question did not arise at present. The ANVC at its executive body meeting on January 10 had extended support to Sangma as facilitator and a statement by it to the local media on February 3 said “The people of Garo Hills need to strengthen Purno Sangma’s hands.”

Sangma is a Lok Sabha member from Meghalaya’s Tura seat in the Garo Hills region, which is considered the ANVC ‘’stronghold’’. In a statement which major political ramifications the  proscribed Achik Nationalist Volunteer Council (ANVC) has appealed to the people in Meghalaya’s Garo hills to support Purno A Sangma in the coming Parliamentary polls. The ANVC has lauded the Garo leader for his peace initiatives and claimed that Mr Sangma played a crucial role in facilitating peace talks between the Centre and the Garo rebels. ANVC chairman Dilash Marak said a five-member committee had been formed to hold talks with the Centre and the state government and claimed that one round of talks had already been held with the Central Government. The ruling Congress in Meghalaya has flayed the statement and said the banned outfit’s open support to Mr Sangma would prove fatal for the Garo strongman as the people might take it to be a threat to voters. A senior Congressman from Garo hills said the party was not bothered by the ANVC’s support to the breakaway NCP leader for it might show that Mr Sangma maintained close links with the underground groups, a message that could prove fatal for him before the polls. The ANVC statement further said the people of Mizoram had reposed  faith in Mr Zoramthanga for they saw that he was the harbinger of peace in the region and appealed to the people of Garo hills to think in that pattern before electing their leader.

| Meghalaya | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |