The Hindu : National : Foreign origin no longer an issue, says Sangma

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Thursday, May 19, 2005

National

National

Foreign origin no longer an issue, says Sangma

Special Correspondent

``Sonia's decision on PM's post vindicated my stand''

GUWAHATI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin is no longer an issue after she refused to become Prime Minister, former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma said but he ruled out merger of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with the Congress.

Ms. Gandhi's refusal to accept the post only vindicated the issue he raised, Mr. Sangma told presspersons here on Wednesday.

He would formally rejoin the NCP after resigning from the Lok Sabha. "Resigning from Parliament is not a big issue. However, the weather is not conducive to a byelection in the northeast in the next two or three months."

`NCP has distinct identity'

As the NCP was also formed on the question of Ms. Gandhi's foreign origin and now that he felt that the issue no longer existed, was there a possibility of merger with the Congress? Mr. Sangma said: "The NCP has attained a distinct identity and hence there is no need for the party to merge with the Congress." It would strive for a third alternative as people were not happy with both the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance.

`PM should visit northeast'

The MP from Tura in Meghalaya alleged that the UPA Government was not paying due attention to the northeast. He said the people there had high expectations, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh represented Assam. He urged Dr. Singh to visit the northeast frequently so that its problems would be solved expeditiously.

The Centre had not shown interest in solving infiltration, a burning problem. He wanted the Government to reintroduce the National Register of Citizens and Issuing of Identity Cards Bill brought in by the NDA regime and referred to a parliamentary standing committee.

He suggested that photo-identity cards be issued to Indian citizens and illegal migrants given the option of going back on their own or be issued work permits or else be deported.

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