SHILLONG, Feb 6 ? Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang on Thursday 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 reports PTI.
The issue of Sangma playing the facilitator between the outfit and the Centre had led to acrimony last year with Lapang terming it as 'unauthorised' and welcoming any individual or organisation if their proposals came through the government.
?It (link) has been proved now," Lapang told reporters here and said 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. Asked by newsmen on the sidelines of launching BSNL's cellular service whether the Centre had intimated him on the reported dialogue between it and the ANVC, Lapang replied in the negative.
?But if the State government is sidelined, we will not allow this talk to happen." Asked if he would complain to the Election Commission as ANVC had asked the people to vote for Sangma, the Chief Minister said since parliamentary 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 bastion of ANVC.
Earlier in his speech at the launching of BSNL cellular service, Lapang said the government would extend its rehabilitation package to militants who surrendered recently. "We have entrusted Church leaders with the noble job (of facilitating talks with the militants) in consonance with the Church rules and appealed to both HNLC and ANVC to work together to build a peaceful atmosphere in the state," he said. Lapang asked the militants to come out of their 'cocoon' and said the people of the state would like to have peace back and live a "free life."