Meghalaya Tourism Min says “Rule of law must prevail” over new norms for hit-and-run case
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Jan 5: Tourism Minister and MDA spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh today said that the rule of law must prevail.
He was responding to a question on the 48-hour protest called by the tourist taxi associations against the yet-to-be-implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which seeks to increase the punishment in hit-and-run cases.
“This is a matter of concern not just for Meghalaya but the entire nation and of course we have seen a rise in cases of harsh driving and a lot of cases where drivers have taken undue advantage of the laws of the land. So the rule of law must prevail,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
The minister said, “As we speak, this is a protest that is being organised across the country so in fact movement of tourists is impeded across India and it is not something that Meghalaya on its own specially being a landlocked state not take measures of our own it has to be in tandem with what the rest of the country is doing.”
Today, tourist taxis in Meghalaya stayed off the roads in support of the country-wide protest against the BNS.
Meanwhile, the tourist taxi associations have decided to end the 48-hour protest tomorrow.
AIM against gambling in melas
The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.
Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.
Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.