Sangma no longer keen on playing negotiator

GUWAHATI, SEPT. 3. The leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, Mr. P. A. Sangma, today said the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, seemed ``hesitant'' to appoint him as the Centre's negotiator with the NSCN (I-M) following objections raised by the Congress, and so, he was no longer interested in taking up the job.

``After the objection by the Congress, the Prime Minister, who had initially offered me the responsibility, seemed hesitant and hence the chapter was closed for me,'' Mr. Sangma told a press conference here.

He had written to Mr. Vajpayee that ``if there is any problem'' it was that of the Government and not his and ``hence the matter should not be pursued... The Prime Minister told me there was some problem to which my reply was that in such a situation I was not interested.''

The three Congress Chief Ministers of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh had objected to his mediation and, therefore, there was ``no point'' in accepting the responsibility. And though Mr. Vajpayee was yet to take a final decision on the matter ``it is closed as far as I am concerned.''

- PTI

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