Rymbai is an honest man : Sangma

Shillong, Mar 7 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma today termed the sudden removal of Meghalaya Chief Minister J D Rymbai as ''unfortunate'' for the people of the state.

''They should not have removed an honest man like this,'' Mr Sangma told UNI over the phone from Garo Hills today.

Last night Mr Rymbai held closed door meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. He was directed to step down and hand over the mantle to his predecessor Mr D D Lapang.

Mr Sangma said his party would extend support to Mr Rymbai if he seeks a vote of confidence in the floor of the House.

''We will support Mr Rymbai in the House for the sake of political stability in the state,'' Mr Sangma stated, adding that the NCP is against the frequent change of leadership in the state.

The NCP leader also criticised the Congress for removing Mr Rymbai ahead of the Planning Commission meeting to fix Meghalaya's annual plan size for 2007-08.

''They (Congress) demeaned the position of the chief minister and the prestige of the people of the state,'' Mr Sangma said.

UNI