Sangma terms Congress decision to suspend Netam 'unconstitutional'

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): Asserting that the presidential election is above party lines, former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma on Thursday condemned the Congress Party's decision to suspend tribal leader Arvind Netam, calling it 'unjustified and unconstitutional'.

"After all, presidential election is above political party. Pranab Mukherjee is not a Congress candidate. He has resigned from the Congress Party. There is no symbol in his election. So, Mukherjee is not contesting under symbol of 'hand'," said Sangma.

"It (presidential election) is above party. Therefore, taking any action taken against anybody who has got nothing to do in the voting process and electoral process is absolutely condemnable," he added.

Sangma, who is contesting the presidential election on grounds that it was time for a tribal to occupy the top constitutional post, also informed that the central executive committee of the Tribal Forum of India would be meeting today to discuss the anti-tribal policy action of the ruling Congress Party.

"Today at 5: 30, a Tribal Forum of India central executive committee will meet to discuss the anti-tribal policy action of the Congress Party by expelling Arvind Netam, who is from the Congress Party. Arvind Netam is the president of Tribal Forum of India . He is not a member of parliament any more. He is not a member of the electoral college," said Sangma.

"Therefore, the question of taking any action by the Congress against Arvind Netam is absolutely unjustified, unconstitutional and we from the Tribal Forum condemn it," he added.

Congress Party had last month suspended Netam for backing Sangma in the presidential election. Congress Party was stung by Netam, who strongly advocated Sangma's candidature after he filed his nomination.

The announcement came after Netam jointly addressed a press conference with Sangma and made a strong plea for support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -backed candidate.

Sangma, who is being backed by the BJP, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the AIADMK, will lock horns with UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the race for Raisina Hill.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24. (ANI)