SHILLONG, SEPT 27: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma accused the opposition political parties of adding fuel to the fire to the ongoing agitations by ngos demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
“If you are looking at the rhetoric that have come from various angles, particularly the opposition, I have reasons to believe that they are adding fuel to the fire, and I have reasons to believe that they must be in close contact with these agitating pressure groups,” Sangma told reporters on Friday.
According to Sangma from the various views that have emanated people have been very candid in saying that elections were just over and suddenly you are talking about one issue. He said, “You are not even allowing the government or rather you are saying that we don’t believe in the government.
“We are politicians, we know who operates how. Therefore, I think people of the state are intelligent enough to draw an inference, and I am also one of the alert citizens besides being a politician and I think we are capable of drawing inferences.”
The people of the state are sandwiched in the battle between the state government and the ngos over the implementation of the ILP. While the government is proposing to introduce the tenancy law the ngos are firm that only ILP should be implemented to control illegal migration and influx into the state.
Sangma termed the ongoing protests by the ngos akin to behaving like militant outfits. He said, “We all know that bandhs, agitations, particularly when it is associated with violent demonstrations, damaging public and private property, creating fear psychosis, it is behaving like militant organizations.”
According to Sangma, every concerned citizen needs to condemn these kinds of activities which reflect their violent behaviour. Saying that it is an irony that many a time the government is blamed to being dictatorial, he however questioned as to who is being dictatorial?
Sangma urged the people to behave normally and responsibly. He said at the end of the day, we are all claiming that we are concerned about the state and its future. He said, “Meghalaya would do well if Meghalaya does not have any more agitations like these.
Sangma said, “Therefore, every individual or groups who represent various pressure groups, their objective must be that the future must be free from unpleasant situations,” he said.
Sangma reiterated that the ILP is a law passed in 1873, adopted by the centre. It does not cover Garo Hills, how will you implement this, he questioned while adding that there is a procedure that has to be done by the union government.
Sangma also questioned as to how Paul Lyngdoh who was in the government for so many years did don’t talk aggressively on the issue of influx and illegal immigration or ILP and now suddenly they are harping on it.
Sangma further observed that if it is read between the lines, he doesn’t think the pro-ILP activists including politicians want to address the issue of influx that is why their behaviour is reflected in their behaviours.
Sangma said that he has reason to believe that they know that what the government is doing is the right thing and what the government is doing will be effective in addressing the issue of influx. He concluded by saying, “They also know. Am sure they know. They are intelligent enough.”-By Our Reporter
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