NEW DELHI, March 31 — The Bill to repeal the controversial IMDT Act would be re-introduced in the Parliament and the NDA Government would label the problem of illegal infiltration as a major issue in its manifesto, disclosed Nationalist Trinamool Congress (NTC) leader, PA Sangma here today. Sangma’s NTC which is a key constituent of the NDA has been involved in the process of drafting of ruling alliance’s manifesto slated to be released on April 8 by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
“While the issue of illegal infiltration from across the border would be prominent issue we have been given to understand that the IMDT Act Repeal Bill would be reintroduced in the Lok Sabha,” he said talking to newsmen here this afternoon. The Bill to repeal the IMDT Act introduced in the last Budget Session lapsed after dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha. The NTC, meanwhile, is fighting on only five seats in the North-East in order to avoid a split in anti-Congress votes. It is fighting for one seat each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura, while in Assam has decided to fight for the Mariani Assembly seat where it has fielded Alok Ghosh. Sangma who released the list of candidates said that his Party has nominated Tadar Tanniamig for Arunachal West, W Morung Makunga for Outer Manipur, Amal Mullick from Tripura West. Sangma himself is fighting from Tura.
As for not fielding any candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Assam, chief spokesman, Prof B B Dutta said it was decided in order to avoid a division of votes. “We felt that let the fight in Assam be among the Congress Party, BJP and AGP,” he said. Meanwhile, Sangma described the AGP decision to keep away from the North East Peoples’ Forum (NEPF) as most unfortunate. He said both Nagaland Chief Minister, N Rio and himself tried out most to bring AGP into the NEPF fold, When AGP said that they were not willing to have alliance with any national party we tried to work out a seat adjustment arrangement. But it is unfortunate that AGP decided to go alone,” he said.
A united AGP will certainly give benefit to Congress Party but since AGP is sharply divided it may not help the Congress Party, he opined, referring to the divide between Goswami and Mahanta camps. Meanwhile, the former Lok Sabha Speaker said that development of the North Eastern region would another significant part of the NDA manifesto. When the NEPF decided to join the NDA it was precisely on the question of development.