HNLC welcomes NIA probe

SHILLONG, MAY 25: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) today claimed it has evidence to prove that the chief minister Mukul Sangma had sought the support of the outfit for the upcoming 2018 elections.

“We have innumerable amounts of evidence to prove that the CM wanted to use the HNLC for his party in the forthcoming elections,” HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“We are even ready to submit those evidences to the office of Madam Sonia Gandhi, but we shall not do that as they will be tampered by the Congress regime under the supervision of Dr Mukul Sangma,” he added.

Stating that outfit is open to any kind of probe, Nongtraw said that it’s better that the probe starts with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as demanded by other political parties in the state.

“If the CM is really serious about a probe then we dare him to hand over the matter at the hands of the NIA, and everything shall become transparent to the public,” he said.

According to him, this is in view that probes conducted by the state agencies have always emerged out to be biased and manipulated.

The statement came after the chief minister had recently refuted the allegations of the HNLC that the CM had sent feelers to the outfit for its support to the Congress in 2018 elections.

However, Nongtraw said that even the MLA Prestone Tynsong had admitted in a recent statement that the state government had sent feelers to HNLC. “So how can the CM deny the fact? It is natural for the CM to give out insane statements as he is worried about the infighting’s within the state congress party,” he added.

Stating that one section of the Congress supports him (Mukul) and the other is hell bent to bring him down, he said that the Congress high command is also acting blind and deaf to all the accusations against the chief minister.

The HNLC also stated that if the CM does not hand over the probe to the NIA then it shall be proved beyond doubt that he is guilty and hiding the truth. “Be a graveyard keeper after you bury the truth alive. Let the truth prevail,” Nongtraw stated.

Further, terming the recent statement of the CM as a blatant lie which portrays his fears of opening a “Pandora’s box”, the outfit leader said, It is a well known fact that the CM was very close to the Chairman ANVC Dilas Marak, and it was due to his intervention that a peace agreement was made with the ANVC.

He said that everyone in Garo Hills knows how the brother of Dilas Marak won elections in his constituency adding if the CM brands the HNLC as criminals and terrorists then he is totally responsible to maintain links with terrorists and criminals to achieve his political career.

“He is the mastermind who had nurtured terrorists in Garo hills and later eliminating them when his motives were achieved,” he adding the statement of late Ajaju Marak, former Political Secretary of ANVC (B) is evident enough to prove the CM link with terrorists and criminals.

Referring to coal scam which the special CBI court had recently convicted the chief secretary of Megahlaya KS Kropha, Nongtraw said, “The CM should not forget that once a person is convicted irrespective of his status or post he is termed as a criminal. When the chief secretary the state can be convicted then what comparisons will the CM make in distinguishing criminals like us and the likes of KS Kropha.”
Stating that very soon the education white ink scam shall also come into light, he said, “The high level official involved and the MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh might face the same music as faced by Kropha.”

Meanwhile, the HNLC also expressed shock over the support extended by the IAS fraternity (Meghalaya IAS Officers Association) in Meghalaya towards Kropha .

“Now by seeing their support it is evident enough that when high profile people are convicted the high class comes out pointing fingers at the law agencies but when an ordinary man is convicted the law agencies receive huge positive responses,” Nongtraw added.