Lapang says he is a man of his words & won’t reconsider his decision

SHILLONG, SEPT 17: Veteran political leader and former five-time chief minister DD Lapang today held the Congress responsible for his decision to quit and not contesting the 2018 Assembly elections as the party forgets that politicians do not retire.

“I did not fight the last election because I saw the mind of the AICC leaders was against elderly people with grey hairs. The AICC forgot that politicians do not retire,” Lapang, who arrived at Nongpoh from New Delhi, told reporters on Monday.

Lapang was received and felicitated by hundreds of his supporters carrying placards lauding the leader for his bold decision.

One of the placards read “Maheh (Lapang): It’s not the end of the road but it’s the beginning of a new chapter”, “We are with you”, “This is not the last journey in your political and social career but it’s a journey to the new era.”

Last week, the former Congress president tendered his resignation letter to the AICC president Rahul Gandhi as a mark of protest on the party’s policy of “phasing out” senior and elderly people.

“They (Congress leadership) asked me to stop. I came out of the party,” Lapang said.

Announcing his decision to continue to serve the people of the state, he however said, “What kind of leadership asks us (elderly) to stop? I am against such a policy and I will keep working.”

Refusing to withdraw his decision to quit the party, the former five-time chief minister said that he had withstood the test of time (in the party).

“Though Rahul and Sonia wanted to speak to me and even the Congress legislature party (CLP) leader spoke with me for an hour but I have decided and I am a man of my words,” he said.

Meanwhile, the veteran political leader, who was the longest serving MLA of Nongpoh, however refused to divulged on his plan to join other political parties.

By Our Reporter