SHILLONG, Nov 9 � Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has stated that chargesheeting of Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak by the police has nothing to do with the infighting in Congress.
Jointly addressing the media with V Narayanasamy, All India Congress Coordination Committee, general secretary, in-charge NE, after a meeting with Congress legislators, Sangma said on Friday: �It (Deborah�s charge-sheet) has no links with the internal bickering in the party.�
Deborah is said to be one of the Congress legislators seeking a change of leadership together with others. Several legislators, including State party chief DD Lapang and Salseng C Marak had earlier this year met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and reportedly demanded the removal of Sangma from the CM�s post.
However, today Sangma said that the Government is in no way interfering with the case and the police have simply charge-sheeted the Minister based on its investigation after an FIR was lodged last year. Deborah has been charge-sheeted for allegedly having links with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) � a banned militant organisation operating in the Garo Hills region.
�The investigation is based on the FIR. What people want is that the government should not interfere in the course of law and therefore, this government is doing exactly that,� the CM said.
Narayanasamy, on the other hand, admitting about the infighting within the party said the differences would be sorted out through discussions. �Differences are bound to be there in a party, but it will be resolved through discussions,� the AICC general secretary said.
He further said that he would be holding discussions with the party legislators on the leadership issue individually and hear from them. Later in the afternoon, Congress legislators met the AICC general secretary and held discussions. The outcome of the meeting is not known so far.
Congress legislators said that they would be demanding for holding of the Congress Legislature Party meeting and then raise the leadership issue in the forum. However, they also say that it is the Chief Minister who has the prerogative to call the CLP meeting, but would be insisting on Narayanaswamy to assist in holding the CLP.
