Congress boycotts Meghalaya Governor’s address

Shillong, March 8 (IANS) The Congress on Friday boycotted Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy's address in the state Assembly over his call to boycott "everything Kashmiri" following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.

The Congress legislators also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not sacking Roy for his "anti-national" message.

"With a heavy heart, we would like to share our agony and anger in respect of the narrative that was generated by Governor Roy. He said that all Kashmiri goods should be boycotted, people should not visit Jammu and Kashmir. It is overwhelming when a person holding a constitutional post engages in this kind of message which is capable of creating a rift among the citizens," Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma told the media.

"We have seen what happened immediately after the incident. Lots of attacks took place across the nation," he said after chairing an urgent meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

Noting that when there was a terror attack, the nation's fight was against militants and not against a community.

"If such a terrorist attack takes place in the northeast, will people like the Governor ask everyone to boycott the region?.

"These are the kind of people who are dividing the nation and trying to give fodder to anti-national forces.

"The Prime Minister should have pulled out the Governor and he (Roy) should have been removed from the office in the nation's best interest," Sangma added.

On February 19, Governor Roy had tweeted: "Don't visit Kashmir, don't go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don't buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree."

His comment came after a suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers in the Kashmir Valley.