Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has adopted a “chalta hai” approach in dealing with the present prevailing law and order problem in East Khasi Hills district.
Law and order problem has arisen in Shillong and Sohra areas following a violent incident at Ichamati last week.
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Former Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma has demanded that “proper inquiry” be instituted in order to go after kingpins behind the incident.
The violent incident at Ichamati took place on February 28 after a meeting organised by the KSU to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
The incident led to the death of KSU member from Sohra, Lurshai Hynñiewta.
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Also read: Shillong to remain under curfew till 6 am on Thursday
The opposition Congress has also decided to move a resolution in the upcoming budget session of the State Assembly to urge the union government to repeal the CAA.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sangma condemned the incident at Ichamati that led to unnecessary unrest in Shillong city and other places.
He said the Opposition had time and again cautioned the present government that any situation which created mistrust among the people is not good for the state.
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“The incidents that occurred in the past few days were because of the ‘chalta hai’ approach of the present government, and the outcome of such approach is painful and we all should condemn it. Losing the name and fame of the state after having been built it in the past, is paining all of us as through collective endeavours we have been able to build the image of the state,” Sangma said.
Sangma said the Opposition has to draw the attention of the government on seeing the kind of response in dealing with the present situation.
Slamming the manner in which the curfew was imposed without letting the citizens aware, Mukul Sangma also slammed the MDA government for frequently banning mobile internet service.
“The flow of information is very critical in this era of technology but the things they do cause inconveniences to the citizens. This shows that they are bankrupt of ideas on governance and administration.”
“The people did not even know that curfew was relaxed in certain areas, and from the way they are doing, they appear to have completely disconnected from the ground reality. No due diligence was done before imposing curfew,” he said.
Stating that there were lots of mechanisms to deal with any situation, the former chief minister recalled the past when he was at the helm of affairs that the government was also confronted with various challenges.
“When we were in the government, weren’t we confronted by various challenges? Despite the challenges, when did you see us banning the internet?” Sangma asked while stating that people should be subjected to minimum inconveniences.
Hitting out at the government for failing to bring the situation under control and for not being able to pre-empt things, Sangma asked, “How didn’t the government know about the Ichamati incident and why don’t they take measures to prevent such incident?”
“Was there no permission sought by the group that organised the meeting, and if permission was given, what were the arrangements made?” he questioned.
“The chief minister is privileged to have the intelligence reports every day but they are in a deep slumber which led to the unprecedented conflict that could have been avoided,” said the former Meghalaya CM.
Demanding that proper inquiry be instituted, Mukul Sangma said an appropriate inquiry mandated by the law should be instituted and it is up to the government to understand.
“I do not trust the magisterial inquiry, and this inquiry should go after kingpins of the incident. It is up to the government, what kind of inquiry it would prefer which is able to nab kingpins.”
“Magisterial inquiry is a ‘chalta hai’ type of inquiry,” Sangma said.
He also said the Opposition has not criticised the government for the sake of criticising but because the government was found wanting and is in deep slumber.
To a question, if the Citizenship Amendment Act is one of reasons that led to the outbreak of the violence at Ichamati, Mukul Sangma said a proper inquiry will be able to find out all the reasons that led to the incident.
He added that the Opposition will table its resolution in the State Assembly to urge the Centre to repeal the CAA.