Meghalaya CM encouraging horse-trading: NCP

Shillong, Feb 17 (PTI) Condemning the ''arbitrary decision''of the Meghalaya government to forcibly install a Congress-ledexecutive committee of Garo Hill Autonomous District Council,opposition NCP today charged Meghalaya Chief Minister MukulSangma with encouraging defection and horse-trading.

�The NCP condemns the arbitrary action of the governmentviolating all norms and principles in politics and ethics. Itis very clear that the chief minister is following andencouraging a practice of defection and horse-trading,'''' NCPspokesman James Sangma said in a statement.

He said a general meeting of the party held last nightdubbed as ''ironic'' the election of PK Sangma as the chiefexecutive member of the GHADC, a person against whom theMeghalaya government has instituted an inquiry on charges ofcorruption.

The instability in the GHADC that has been witnessed inthe past is a cause for concern for the people of Garo Hillsand for that the NCP has resolved to send a delegation to meetthe Prime Minister to bring all the Autonomous DistrictCouncils under the purview of the 10th Schedule of theConstitution, he said.

NCP MP Thomas A Sangma will introduce a Private MembersBill in the Rajya Sabha seeking the Amendment of the 10thSchedule, the NCP said.

Meghalaya Opposition leader Conrad Sangma will also movea Private Members Resolution in the upcoming Budget Session ofthe Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for the same purpose.

The NCP also decided to expel PK Sangma and Edmund K.

Sangma after they defected to the Congress recently.

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