Congress steps up attack on Sangma
By Express News Service - BHUBANESWAR
02nd July 2012 11:33 AM
Sangma and his proposer Naveen are trying to influence voters by projecting him as a tribal and Christian candidate in violation of the Constitution, law and tradition, former minister Narasingh Mishra told mediapersons. PTI photo
Accusing Presidential candidate PA Sangma and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of violating the Constitution by playing tribal and religion cards, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Sunday asked them to refrain from such method to influence the voters.
Sangma and his proposer Naveen are trying to influence voters by projecting him as a tribal and Christian candidate in violation of the Constitution, law and tradition, former minister and chairman of the OPCC media cell Narasingh Mishra told mediapersons here.
The tribal card is being played by a person during whose 12 years rule 25 tribals were killed in police firing, Mishra said, adding that the Kandhamal riots also speak about the track record of the BJD in protecting the minorities.
Referring to Sangma’s campaign by projecting him as a tribal, the former minister asked where was he when leaders cutting across partylines from all corners of the country visited Kalinganagar after the police firing in which several tribals died. Sangma also did not visit Kandhamal district after the riots, he said and added that Naveen’s record in protecting the rights of tribals is nothing to be proud about.
Mishra alleged that dead tribals were treated in a very cruel way after the police firing at Kalinganagar and their palms were chopped off. Though the State Government later put the blame on the doctors, such things cannot happen without the consent of the higher-ups, he said.
Alleging that the Naveen Government is insensitive towards the needs of the tribals, the Congress leader said every year hundreds of tribals die of diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis in Kashipur area.
But ` 108 cr meant for drinking water supply could not be utilised by the state government had to be surrendered, he said.
Soon after coming to power, Naveen stopped a scheme launched by the previous Congress government to provide tribals rice at ` 2 per kg. Later on he is taking credit by launching the same scheme, he said.
The Congress leader condemned the attitude of the candidate, his proposers and supporters for playing the tribal and religion cards. The Constitution clearly says that voters cannot be influenced on the basis of caste, creed and religion, he said cautioning anyone trying to do so would be disqualified.
Apart from the Constitution, the President and Vice President Election Act, 1952 also provides that election for these posts can be nullified if candidates resort to undue practice to influence voters, Mishra said.
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