Conrad Sangma an "Agent" of the BJP, Claims Congress' Mukul Sangma

Shillong, January 21, 2019:

The Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP) has become an "agent" of the ruling saffron party, alleges former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, lashing out at his successor for bowing to the whims of the saffron party's might at the Centre.

Talking to Inside Northeast, Sangma stated that he is thoroughly dissatisfied with the NPP Government's stand (or lack thereof) regarding the contentious amendment of the Citizenship Act. "It is not a question of being "satisfied", it is about the stand of the NPP", he said, launching a scathing attack on the rival party for allegedly "misleading" the people on pressing issues of the day.

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"How can you expect this Government to oppose the CAA? They are acting as agents of the BJP Government..", alleged Sangma, adding that Conrad Sangma, instead of confronting the Centre, has been trying to convince the people of Meghalaya that everything is "fine".

"The BJP has been successful in utilizing people like Conrad to distort the reality of the situation, which continues to be grim. They are trying to convince people that even if the CAA has any negative ramifications, it does not apply to the 6th schedule or tribal areas", Sangma added, lambasting his successor for allegedly trying to "mislead" the people.

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Rationalizing his statement, the senior Congress leader stated that once foreigners gain citizenship as per the provisions of the CAA, they will be free to move across all the states --  including the "exempted" 6th Schedule and ILP regime areas. "When you talk about citizenship...do you have different categories? No."

"There is no question of saying that the Meghalaya State is exempted because it is a 6th Scheduled area...simply because 97% of Meghalaya is under the 6th Schedule, it will not stop the influx of migrants from other places", Sangma further added, warning that the State will be flooded with migrants once the CAA comes into effect.

It is to be mentioned here that the CAA has been designed to fast-track the process of granting citizenship to six non-Muslim communities — Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian — who allegedly fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan till December 31, 2014, and took refuge in India.

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