Backing the candidature of P A Sangma for the Presidential election,
Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday showered praise on the former
Union minister and said the time has come for him to become the first
tribal President.
“From Gujarat, no leader has been elected as MP nine times. He
(Sangma) has served as Union minister for 18 years and also served as
the CM of Meghalaya. And in his long career, no agency, be it CBI, CAG
or any other, has ever tried to touch him. He has not got any black spot
in his long career,” Modi said with Sangma on his side at a function
organised by the Netaji Subhas Bose’s INA Trust.
“Tribals of the country are waiting for a tribal in Rashtrapati
Bhavan. Fourteen parties have supported him and I believe that miracles
do happen today,” he said. “The sun rises in the east and the time has
come that Sangmaji, who hails from North-East, becomes the first tribal
President... We wish an innocent tribal leader be the First Citizen of
India,” Modi added.
Sangma, who was “overwhelmed” by the colourful reception he got
right from his landing at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport where
Sidi tribals and others performed, avoided speaking on his candidature
at the function.
Later, at a press conference, he said, “I have come hear to
request all the tribals, Dalits, OBCs and minority MLAs from all the
parties to support my candidature like they had supported the first SC
President, K R Narayan.”
