SHILLONG, AUG 10: Predicting economic collapse of the state because of the coal ban and also the militancy problem in Garo hills coupled with bank strikes, former Lok Sabha speaker and NPP leader Purno A Sangma said his party is opposed to any move to declare Garo hills as “disturbed area” and impose the Arms Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).
Sangma, who is also the NPP national president and Tura Lok Sabha MP, met Governor KK Paul on Saturday and expressed his concern over the spiraling militancy problem in Garo hills and his apprehension that this will lead to complete economic breakdown in the region.
On his opposition to any move to introduce AFSPA in Garo hills, Sangma told reporters on Sunday, “In spite of what is happening in Garo Hills, we made it very clear to the Governor that we are totally opposed to declaring Garo Hills as disturbed area and the application of Arms Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).”
Sangma, however, said Garo hills situation is going from bad to worse as even in remote villages people have started taking law into their own hands. He said, “Extortion, kidnapping, threats, demand notes have become the order of the day.” He also said Garo hills situation has even affected neigbouring Assam and people there have even burned chief minister Mukul Sangma effigy.
Sangma informed Paul gave a patient hearing and told him that he is not only aware of what is happening in Meghalaya but has also kept the centre informed.
The kidnapping spree in the Garo hills and the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s ban on rat hole coal mining in Meghalaya, Sangma said, “The economy of the state is bound to collapse, if the banks are to go for indefinite strike as due to the ban of coal mining by the NGT, the economy of Meghalaya has already been badly affected.”
According to him, the banks have decided to launch and indefinite strike in Garo hills to protest against the kidnapping of an SBI official by suspected militants in Garo Hills’ Barengapara.
With such a backdrop in Garo hills Sangma predicted, “I am 100 per cent sure that in few weeks time there will be a complete financial crisis in Meghalaya… just see it… it’s a question of only a matter of few weeks.”
Explaining his prediction, Sangma said firstly the ban on coal has badly affected state revenue up to up to Rs 600 crores and if the banks strike no projects are going to be implemented. He also said and corruption is so high that even in a small district like East Garo hills fund of Rs 5 crore for total sanitation programme is siphoned off by the deputy commissioner. He wondered, “What is left in the state…?”
Sangma also expressed doubt over the details of the proposed tripartite peace agreement entered between the centre government, state governments and the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) , which was under ceasefire mode since 2004.
The Meghalaya government had recently decided to extend the tenure of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by another six months as it is waiting for the centre’s approval on the agreement.
Sangma however said that NPP is still in doubt of the proposed agreement relating to giving more powers to the GHADC and was also of the opinion that the state government should have taken all stakeholders including political parties like main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), NPP, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Garo National Council (GNC) into consideration.
Informing that the bill relating to proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is still awaiting introduced in the parliament, Sangma said, “NPP is convinced that the proposed agreement will not bring permanent peace in the state particularly in Garo Hills region.”
Quoting the chief minister who had said stated during last assembly session that there are already ten militant groups operating in Garo Hills, Sangma wondered what will be the reaction of the other nine militant groups when the peace agreement is only with one and how will the government try to tackle the others.
Sangma also said the extension of the GHADC tenure by another six months is ‘unconstitutional’.
Sangma also question as to where is the delimitation committee and claimed the committee has not yet been constituted yet and, therefore, questioned the justification for extension GHADC term by another six months.
Commenting on the alleged rebellion within the state Congress against the chief minister Sangma said, “I am happy that majority of the Congress legislators in the state have realize the gravity of the situation and wants to change party’s leadership, I know that Congress is a responsible political party and cannot afford irresponsible situation.”
Sangma also remarked that the ‘absentee’ chief minister is not available in the state’s capital as he is busy wasting his time inaugurating small projects (in Garo Hills), which should normally is done by the Nokma of the villages.
Sangma also took a dig at the chief minister saying that Mukul Sangma on Saturday was stopped by the people to inaugurate the hanging bridge in Williamnagar which is unheard so far.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours