Sangma pins his hopes on a miracle to emerge winner

With Pranab Mukherjee having a clear edge in the Presidential poll, P A Sangma is now hoping for a miracle to see himself emerge a winner, even as he denied being a tool in the hands of those supporting him.

“Yes, miracles can and do happen in this world...it happens...I believe in miracles. You are right. I do believe in miracles,” Sangma said when suggested that only this could ensure victory for him, as over 60 per cent of the electorates have already extended their support to Mukherjee.

Sangma said it was not right to rule him off even before the Presidential poll and claimed God was with him.

 

“Politics moves very fast...This is politics. In politics anything can happen...Things will change every day, you just watch,” he told Karan Thapar in the Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN-IBN.

The tribal leader denied being used as a tool by the Bharatiya Janata Party to win over other political allies or by Naveen Patnaik to woo the 25 per cent tribals in Odisha.

“Not at all,” he said. He, however, suggested even the media is playing as a tool in someone's hands and said, “We are all tools. You are a tool for someone. I am a tool for someone. Don’t bring in these petty things.”

Sangma, who is supported by the BJP, AIADMK and BJD, said his candidature “will do good to secularism of this nation”. He also downplayed the “anti-Christian” stance of both the BJP and AIADMK in the past and said, “Religious problems are everywhere” and cited examples of countries like the UK and the US where only Anglicals and non-Catholics respectively, were traditionally made prime ministers.

When pointed out that Sangh outfits, the ideology of which is followed by the BJP, have been blamed for the Kandhamal killings in Odisha and Graham Stein’s murder, Sangma said, “Forgiveness is the essence of Christianity. We, as Christians, do not keep things permanently... It is the biggest religion in the world. We don’t go by small incidents here and there... It has a big heart.”

“Where is the proof that BJP has done it (Kandhamal killings)?...Don't jump to conclusions...Don’t make such wild allegations,” he said, adding one should not go by the actions of individuals.

On whether his support from BJP and AIADMK contradicted the principles for which he stood for, Sangma said, "India is a large democracy. Congress is the largest party. BJP is the second largest party. In such huge political parties, few incidents here and there do happen, will happen. You can't judge it by that."

"I am standing for principles...for democracy...for the welfare of poor people. I am very clear in my conscience," he said.

Sangma brushed aside reports that it was "wrong" on his part to contest the presidential poll against odds and negated suggestions that the move would end his political career.

"There is no end to a political career. I am just 65 now. I don't need to join a political party to contest...my margin never goes down, it always goes up," he said.

He said it was not his obsession to contest for President but his right to assert. "I am only asserting my right as a citizen of India...as a tribal...as a person coming from the north eastern region."

Brushing aside as "speculation" reports of Mamata Banerjee denying him time to meet, he said, "I have requested for time. I am waiting for the reply. I will (get time). Still there is time. It's almost one month left (for the poll)."