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War of words between Sangmas escalates

By Correspondent

SHILLONG, Jan 13 � The war of words between the Sangmas got high-pitched today with Opposition leader Conrad Sangma saying that Meghalaya needs a responsible rather than a �singing� Chief Minister.

According to Conrad, Chief Minster Mukul Sangma was busy �singing and partying� even after ethnic riots broke out in Garo Hills.

Days after the ethnic riots broke out on January 1, Mukul was found in a party singing and didn�t accord the necessary importance to stump the violence, the Opposition leader said.

Mukul is a known music fan and doesn�t shy away from handling the mike and has even a music album to his credit.

�The Chief Minster was partying and singing in Goiragiri (near Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills district) after ethnic riots broke out in East Garo Hills,� Conrad said in a press meet held today.

The ethnic violence has claimed the lives of five people, seven were seriously injured and thousands fled their homes for safety.

Stating that Meghalaya can do without a �singing� Chief Minster, Conrad said that Mukul should have acted in a responsible manner in tackling the law-and-order situation.

�We don�t want a singing Chief Minster, but someone who takes his work responsibly,� Conrad hit back after Mukul yesterday said that Union Minster of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma was defied the district administration�s advice and visited disturbed areas that could worsen the fragile law-and-order situation.

Calling Mukul a �nervous� Chief Minster Conrad said that the he was shying away from visiting the affected district and displaced people so far and dared him to do so, as his sister and father (Agatha and Purno A Sangma) were doing.

He said that Agatha was visiting the affected people to help them in her capacity as a legislator from Garo Hills and a Union Minister and never defied the district administration�s advice.

The Opposition leader said that the Chief Minster should have called an all-party meeting to take everyone into confidence to tackle the situation.

�He should have taken the initiative to solve the issue, instead he is indulging in blame game,� he added.

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