Shillong, May 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has dismissed the criticism that NPP played politics with the language issue by fielding Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) president Dr DRL Nonglait in the Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election, saying his candidature is a “moment of pride” and a step to safeguard tribal identity.
“Maybe you think of it in the wrong manner, but for us, we look at it as a moment of pride. We look at this as an opportunity for us bringing our thoughts, bringing our ideology and bringing our vision together and working together as a team to achieve the same goal and the same purpose that we all are trying to achieve… to be able to ensure that the identity of the tribes of our state is maintained and we do whatever we can to protect it and to nurture it,” Sangma told reporters after a party meeting.
Asserting that the KAS president’s work aligned with the government’s objectives, he said, “This is what Dr Nonglait has been doing throughout his life and career to protect that. This is the objective of the government.”
“We feel that it is a perfect combination and a perfect team work to be able to take our concerns, our positions, our visions and our fight further so that we are able to achieve the different goals,” he said.
Asked if the VPP’s rise and sympathy wave posed a challenge for the NPP in the Lok Sabha polls, Sangma said no election could be taken lightly. “All elections are difficult. I have always maintained this from day…So, we don’t take anything lightly. For us, every single party is a formidable force for us. That is how we always prepare and we will ensure that we will do our best and we work hard so that we can win this Lok Sabha election,” he said.
