Proposed journey from Garo hills to Raisina Hill in the interest of tribals, says Sangma

UMANAND JAISWAL
Guwahati, July 5: He may have left his fate in God’s hands but presidential hopeful Purno Agitok Sangma has quite a few things worked out: he is sure, for example, that his attempted journey from Garo hills to Raisina Hill will have a huge impact on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, for one. Below are excerpts from the interview he gave to The Telegraph before launching his nationwide campaign to gather support for his candidature that is sponsored by the Tribal Forum of India.

The Telegraph: Your bid for Raisina Hill seems to be driven by your own aspirations, to secure your own political future...

P.A. Sangma: It has nothing to do with my own future. Had I thought only about myself I would not have gone against Congress president Soniaji . My bid is to secure the rights of the tribals and articulate their aspirations.

TT : It is also said you entered the fray with an eye on the 2013 Meghalaya Assembly elections actually...

Sangma : I do not know what impact my contesting will have on Meghalaya elections but it will surely have a huge impact on 2014 parliamentary elections. A lot of churning has already started. JD (U) in the NDA, TMC in the UPA… more are on the way. One more thing, I have started withdrawing myself from state politics and there is enough space in national politics. Rajya Sabha MP Thomas Sangma will be contesting from my seat and I will be promoting young faces. My people did not understand how I could have helped the state by using my contacts at the national level owing to my stint as an MP for over three decades.

TT: You are playing the tribal card now but why did you oppose the candidature of G.G. Swell from Meghalaya in 1992? He, too, was a tribal.

Sangma: How do you know I opposed him? It was a secret ballot. I never opposed him. I had and have the highest respect for him. The issue of a tribal becoming President was not raised as it is being raised now. I am the Tribal Union of India’s unanimous choice.

TT: Do you have a vision for the type of President you want to be?

Sangma : I have. In course of my ongoing nationwide campaign in all state capitals, I will be spelling out my vision to the members of the electoral college. I will not be a rubber stamp President but a thinking President. A President cannot remain silent. It is a god-given opportunity for the Northeast to have a President from the region. I would appeal to members of the electoral college to vote without fear as election for President is through secret ballot.

TT : Pranab Mukherjee, the favourite in the presidential race, has turned down your demand for a debate. He feels there are no issues to be debated upon.

Sangma: There is a lot to debate on — such as the state of the economy, the political situation and foreign bank accounts. I have got a list of people who have money in foreign accounts. Today people are looking for honesty, integrity; somebody who can bring change.