Conrad K Sangma
Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma addressing an election rally in Garo Hills.

Meghalaya chief minister and NPP chief Conrad K. Sangma on Monday reiterated that the party will continue to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in near future.

Conrad K. Sangma said this while campaigning in North and East Garo Hills for the party candidate and his sister Agatha Sangma, who is contesting from the Tura parliamentary polls.

Clarifying the alleged misinformation campaign of the opponent, Conrad Sangma said, “Meghalaya was the first state in India to oppose the Bill and raise its objection. We took the initiative to unite different political parties of Northeast and made our voice heard in Delhi and ensured that the Bill lapsed in the Rajya Sabha.”

Post-lapse of the CAB, the people of Northeast have given due recognition to the National People’s Party (NPP).

“NPP is the party of the Northeast,” he added.

The Meghalaya CM during his tour in North and East Garo Hills campaigned in three different locations of Rongrong Abema, Mangsang and Chibonga as he kicked off his chopper campaign to drum up support for former union minister Agatha K. Sangma.

During his campaign the NPP national chief reminded the gathering that people across the Northeast are eagerly waiting to see the mandate for NPP as they believe that NPP can deliver and push forward the agenda for the region.

While stating that the Congress party is “propagating a wrong notion” that NPP will partner with BJP and will ensure that the CAB is passed in the Parliament, the NPP chief said, “We will remain true to our commitment promised to the people of Northeast and will never allow any bill that would hamper the interest of our people.”

“The Congress is aware that they are not coming back to power. So they are saying that NPP will partner with BJP. The Congress party is well qualified from the University of lies, so they will continue to lie the people,” he said.

Addressing the election rallies, Conrad Sangma also made an “emotional” chord with the electorates as he shared the dreams of Late Purno Agitok Sangma of championing the cause of the indigenous people of Northeast.

“For MP election, the people of Garo Hills have always kept the interest of the tribesmen as the key agenda. This time also, it is not any different. The people of Garo Hills have united to show their solidarity to NPP. The wave of our party is felt across the region be it in plain belt area of Phubari — Rajabala or in the hills of Baghmara – Chokpot,” he said.

Conrad Sangma said, “Congress is trying to dupe the people with lies that Garo National Council (GNC) is supporting the Congress and that our leader Nihim D. Shira has also joined the Congress.”

“GNC and Nihim have clarified their stand and their lies have been caught. So they have no other option but to create and propagate wrong notion but I am confident that the people of Garo Hills will not buy their lies,” he added.

He asked the electorates to make Congress candidate Dr. Mukul Sangma accountable by asking if during his tenure as chief minister whether he did not work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“He (Mukul) is saying that NPP is working with BJP, yes we are working with the Centre to ensure development, and he did the same. So if NPP-BJP is same, Congress and BJP is also the same,” said Conrad Sangma.

He said that state and Centre have to work in coordination to ensure development.