Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong dared HNLC to prove with facts the allegations of shares, collected by the CM, deputy CM and the home minister, from the coal trucks that ply illegally every night.
Outlawed militant outfit Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) alleged that Rs 5,000 per truck is the share of the chief minister, deputy chief minister and the home minister from thousands of coal trucks which are plying in the state illegally.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Also read: Shun violence: Meghalaya Dy CM Prestone Tynsong, Minister Kyrmen Shylla ask HNLC
Tynsong also made it clear that he would step down if the HNLC could prove the allegations with facts.
Asking the HNLC to bring out facts, Tynsong said the HNLC should not talk irresponsibly.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“If you talk about these kinds of things without having any documents or factuality, I think we need to refrain ourselves from such statements. So I have nothing to say on that because if they do have allegations with documents, I am ready even to step down. I am ready to step down…” he said.
Asked about the HNLC’s aspiration for peace talks, the deputy chief minister said, “I can’t say…, but let me tell you one thing, if you really want to have peace talks please come out officially not to just say in the news or make statement on social media because the government cannot treat that as official.”
“If you are really serious, kindly send us official communication so that we can take it up with the Central government. In spite of that, from the state government, we have already submitted our report to the government of India for talks. However, till now we have not yet received any response,” he said.
Saying that HNLC is a banned organization, Tynsong requested the militant outfit to send an official communication to both the state government and the central government.
Also read: Meghalaya: Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong reacts to allegations over illegal transportation of coal
“From the state government we have already sent our views to the Central government though we don’t have any official communication which we are supposed to have from their side. But still we had sent our views to the government of India and let the government of India (take a call).”
“Ultimately, if we talk about dialogue or peace talks, this cannot be done only between the HNLC and the state government, because banning of the outfit was done by the Centre through the ministry of home affairs,” Tynsong said.
The HNLC recently alleged that “surrendered militants share is Rs 1000 per truck, and Rs 5000 per truck, is the share of the CM and deputy CM and the home minister” from illegal supply of coal.