Resign says Opp to CM

SHILLONG, NOV 27: Opposition political parties condemned what they described as ‘rigid-attitude’ of the Congress led state government with regard to the ongoing stalemate arising out of the ILP agitation and has demanded that chief minister Mukul Sangma  should ‘step-down’.

The demand for stepping down of the chief minister came following Tuesday’s statement made by Sangma hinting that  the government will not call the pro Inner-Line Permit (ILP) groups for any ‘talks’ if it is only to discuss the ILP issue.

Sangma, who also denied that there is a deadlock, instead blamed the agitating groups for being ‘adamant’ in their demand for implementation of the ILP.

“Shifting blames to the agitating groups’ only show that the CM is forgetting his constitutional duty and the oath he took as the head of the state,” UDP general secretary Allantry F Dkhar told reporters after a consultation meeting attended by opposition political parties on Wednesday.

NPP state president W Kharlukhi said, “It is highly irresponsible on the part of the chief minister to act this way even though the state has been suffering from agitational programme for nearly 3 months now.”

During the 12 week-long standoff, two lives were also lost, Kharlukhi  said adding that the state government does not take the present situation in the state seriously.  He also felt that the chief minister and the government he is leading must step down if they failed to find a way to end this impasse.

Quoting President Pranab Mukherjee, who during his visit to the state, had stated that it is duty of the state government of the day to have open dialogue with the civil societies, Dkhar said, “But, the chief minister has failed to respect the advice put forth by the head of the country.”

Answering to a query whether there was any move from non Congress parties to demand for President’s Rule in the state, Dkhar said, “We will think about what will be our next step but as opposition parties, we have brought to the notice of the Governor Dr KK Paul on the present scenario for his intervention.”- By Our Reporter