Congress is anti-tribal, alleges Sangma

Raipur: Dubbing Congress as anti-tribal, BJP-backed presidential nominee P A Sangma on Thursday said he was still inspired by the ideology of the party which "now does not have leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi".

Talking to reporters in Raipur, he said, "Congress suspended its tribal leader Arvind Netam without prior notice when he was seen with me during the filing of nomination paper for the presidential election. This step by the Congress exposes the party's anti-tribal face."

Sangma, a prominent tribal leader from the northeast and a former NCP leader, arrived in Raipur to meet BJP MPs and MLAs ahead of the July 19 presidential vote.

Sangma said he was still inspired by Congress ideology which \"now does not have leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi\".

Asked about his relation with the NCP and the Congress, the former Lok Sabha Speaker said he was still inspired by the Congress ideology, but the party now does not have leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Sangma said he was still hoping for a miracle in the next week's polls for the top Constitutional post and expressed confidence that MPs and MLAs (who form electoral college) will vote by "conscience".

Sangma is pitted against UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.

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