Meghalaya: Congress alleges RSS of spreading communal tension ahead of Tura by-poll

Shillong: The ruling Congress in Meghalaya on Saturday charged Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with distributing hate pamphlets ahead of the 16 May Tura Lok Sabha by-election. The pamphlet has allegedly warned people to either convert or else leave “Hindurashtra” soon apart from declaring that Christianity will be “erased” by 2021. The Congress, which has condemned this, has also lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi demanding an immediate probe into the matter. [caption id=“attachment_2781682” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat_._ PTI[/caption] “These anti-social elements are terrorising the general voters of the constituency by disturbing the hate pamphlets across the 2-Tura (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. There is a strong apprehension that these anti-social elements will cause disturbance and chaotic situation in elections,” the state Congress said in a statement. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the groups were trying to spread communal disharmony to hamper the on-going by-polls and urged the electorate to not get disconcerted and maintain peace and harmony. The Returning Officer has directed West Garo Hills district SP Mukesh Singh to file an FIR against unknown miscreants involved in the act. Meanwhile, campaigning has ended at 4 pm today with no untoward incidents except for the reported hate speeches involving the Congress candidate and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s wife Dikkanchi D Shira earlier this month, Chief Election Officer FR Kharkongor told PTI. “Campaigning was peaceful in all the five districts till the time it ended today at 4 pm. There was no untoward incidence reported,” Kharkongor said. In the reported hate speech, the Returning Officer is expected to summon Dikkanchi for questioning very soon following which necessary action will be taken as per law, Kharkongor said. The by-election was necessitated following the demise of former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma earlier this year. The BJP, which did not put up any candidate, is supporting the National People’s Party candidate and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma’s son Conrad K Sangma and so are the regional parties in the state. The ruling Congress has 13 out of the 14 MLAs in the five districts the constituency is spread over. But Conrad feels he has an edge over Dikkanchi as his father Purno A Sangma has a huge following and has been their leader for a very long time.