Mahila defends HDR, no need to resign

By Our Reporter  

SHILLONG, FEB 1: When ngos are demanding sacking of the home minister HDR Lyngdoh in the infamous  Marvelene Inn minor trafficking  case, women Congress leaders have come to his rescue and as they have demanded that he should not be dropped.

A minor girl was allegedly raped in Marvelene’s Inn owned by Lyngdoh’s son. Many including Independent legislator Julius Dorphang have been arrested in connection with the case.

However, Congress women leaders and workers on Wednesday demanded that the state leadership should not sack Lyngdoh.

The demand came after a meeting was convened by the Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (MPMCC) at the Congress Bhavan today.

It was also attended by the members of the newly formed Sohiong Mahila Block Congress Committee (SMBCC).

“We demanded that the chief minister Mukul Sangma and MPCC chief DD Lapang not to drop HDR Lyngdoh as home minister because he is not involved in the case,” SMBCC president Martis Lyngdoh Thabah told reporters.

However women activists in the state have been demanding that Lyngdoh step down as  the home minister as his son’s guest house was used for exploiting the 14-year-old girl. The activists felt that his resignation will pave way for free and fair investigation into the case.

MPMCC chief Joplin Scott Shylla however defended Lyngdoh saying, “Why should he (Lyngdoh) step down when he is not involved and when persons involved have been arrested.”

“If he was involved directly in the case, we would be the first one to demand for him to step down… when he is not involved why should he pay the price,” she said.

Asked on their silence with regards to governor’s case, Shylla said, “We did not do so because the lady (victim) never filed an FIR but seems he felt guilty and that is why he resigned as governor.”

She expressed satisfaction on the way the state government is dealing with issues related to crimes against women and children adding it is doing its best.

Shylla, however, informed that they will soon sit and go to the state government and demand measures to ensure such crimes, especially rape, don’t happen often in the state.

“Law has to be more stringent against such perpetrators,” she said while emphasizing that sex education should be included in the school syllabus as awareness on the issue is utmost important.

Meanwhile, the MPMCC also protested against the recent sexist remark of BJP leader Binay Katihar against Congress woman leader Priyanka Gandhi.