Dy CM seeks report on violation

“I will find out from the deputy commissioner – (as of now it is) only an allegation,” Tynsong told reporters.

He was reacting to a recent statement made by the Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma alleging that the Chief Minister had invited the public to converge for his ribbon cutting function thereby violating the COVID-19 protocols.

Mukul had said that at a time when people are told not to have social and political gatherings and to maintain social distance, the Chief Minister goes around and calls the public to converge for his public function for cutting the ribbon.

“That also pertaining to a project in my own constituency…just imagine, Leader of Opposition’s constituency (Songsak), Chief Minister going and inaugurating a project, a project where I had given fund from my MLA scheme on a convergence mode without inviting the local MLA and Leader of opposition,” he had alleged while asking the CM to lead by example.

Asked, Tynsong reminded that the government had already issued a standing order as far as political and social gathering is concerned.

“The order (infact) still stands. The SOP is there, that church gathering, political meetings (and others) are not allowed. So anybody who violates (the order), they need to be punished,” he stated.

On Mukul’s allegation about a rock show organized during the Chief Minister’s election campaign at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district, Tynsong however said, “Please do not talk about the past. As I said we have already issued an order (in this regard). We have authorized all DCs that on a case to case basis or a need basis according to their wisdom they can issue NOC specifically.”

Regarding a complaint against the recent party meeting organized by the BJP during the visit of its national general secretary Arun Singh, the deputy chief minister said as far as granting of permission is concerned the deputy commissioners are being authorized.

“Of course there are certain issues where the DCs always send the applications to the political department,” he said.

Stating that he is not aware of the political meeting held by BJP, Tynsong however said, “Obviously the deputy commissioner will assess on the ground whether the space is good enough that social distancing can be maintained or not. That is why we decided that DCs are the best people to grant or not to grant NOC.”

By Our Reporter