SHILLONG, DEC 19: Issuing a warning to the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) coalition government of Mukul Sangma to either replace the recently legislated Lokayukta Act, 2012 with a stronger version or risk facing agitation, nineteen ngos held a public meeting at Motphran Wednesday to whip up support and demand for a stronger anti-graft law.
The MUA government had hurried passed the Lokayukta Act, 2012 in the jus concluded winter session of the assembly and many felt the act was just a repeal of the ten years old act without teeth to bite the corrupt and guilty.
Dubbing the Lokayukta Act, 2012 as “toothless,” the ngos have even petitioned the Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary to withhold his accent to the bill.
Leaders of the different ngos even dared the political parties to speak about “corruption” during the election campaigns as election to the Meghalaya assembly is slated in February 2013.
In a clear warning to the government Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president, Daniel Khyriem said during a public meeting attended by many in Motphran Wednesday, “Government please do not force us to take up undemocratic means but fulfill our demands when we are still requesting because if you don’t be prepared to face the consequences.”
Similarly, the Meghalaya Right to Information Movement (MRTIM) leader Michael Syiem also gave an indication of what the ngos are planning to do if the government fails to replace the anti-graft law with a stronger version when he announced that the civil societies are going to hold a “series of agitation” till their demand is fulfilled.
Saying that the Lokayukta Act, 2012 is full of flaws that only encourage corruption, Syiem said that the barometer of corruption can be gauged by the fact that the percentages of BPL families have drastically increased from 49 percent to 66 percent indicating that all the funds for alleviating poverty are being misused.
Enlightening the crowd the differences between the Right to Information (RTI) Act and a strong Lokayukta act, Syiem said while the former exposes corruption the latter not only jails corrupt but also recovers asset from them.
Khyriem also reasoned that the legislators allowed a weak Lokayukta bill to be passed because they are ‘scared.”
Other like CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing and RTI activist Angela Ryngad accused chief minister of letting down the people and the state by rushing through a weak Lokayukta Act. The ngos also decided to meet soon to chalk out a detail agitation programme. – By Our Reporter
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