Mukul questions govt action against students

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma today slammed the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government for allegedly booking the students, who were arrested in the July 24-Tura violence, under the relevant section of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which deals with terrorists and members of the banned organizations.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the reaction of the authorities with regards to the incident was more like a pre-planned modus operandi.

“You are seeing a government, who have the audacity to allow young boys and students, who are pursuing their academic careers to be booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which are for the terrorists and members of the banned organizations,” he said.

“This indicates that the government instead of ensuring justice is becoming the main perpetrator of crime. It is a crime. If somebody is implicated falsely just to hide their own failures, is it not a crime?” Sangma asked.

Condemning the government’s action, the former chief minister said the government is trying to destroy the career of these young boys.

“Everybody’s career is important. Conrad Sangma’s career is also as important so also the career of those young boys, who are pursuing their courses of study. Maybe that boy arrested is the only boy who has reached this far in pursuing their academic career, maybe he is the only lone educated boy coming up and he might have dreams to contribute to the society. So these are something which reflects the mindset of the people in power and I condemn them,” he said while adding “This mindset is highly condemnable. Therefore, these issues need to be discussed in the August house. Will we get a chance? They will say it is subjudice so the media has to ask them are these boys’ terrorists?”

Sangma further reminded the State government that there is a procedure if any organization has to be notified as a terrorist organization.

“You look at the list of the terrorist organizations you will see this list is notified by the MHA and not by the State government. So which terrorist organization was there, which was banned that these boys have to be arrested under this particular Act. What are they trying to do that means the government of the day is hell-bent on becoming a perpetrator to do injustice to innocent people that is how I will put it,” he said.

Further, the AITC leader demanded the State government to rectify such wrongs done to the people of the people of State.

“It should not be repeated and the government must rectify all these wrongs that have been perpetrated upon the people of the state,” he said.

Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.

Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.

The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.

The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

Synshar files nomination, confident of victory

Candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh filed his nomination today and expressed confidence to win the Sohiong seat in the upcoming election slated to be held on May 10.

Synshar was accompanied by UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh, party leaders and supporters at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The election in Sohiong was adjourned following the demise of his uncle and former home minister and contesting candidate of the UDP, (L) HDR Lyngdoh on February 20.

Synshar will be contesting against NPP’s Samlin Malngiang, who resigned as HSPDP MLA ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls.

Speaking to media persons, Synshar said, “Today is a special day and also an acute moment of nostalgia remembering my uncle late HDR Lyngdoh who was here two months ago filing his nomination papers. He was a popular figure and a legend in this field. His death is a big loss to the family to the party to the state.”

“I am here as his replacement. I am here as a continuation of his work and his legacy,”  he added.

Expressing confidence to win the Sohiong seat, Synshar said, “One important thing the people of Sohiong constituency are praying every day and wants to produce a lawmaker and not just a legislator, a legislator who will speak in the Assembly, a legislator who will voice out the people’s pain and grief. The youth are angry, people are watching. I am being watched as I speak. Serious bills and subjects are being moved in the Assembly like in the last session.”

He continued: “We need intellectuals to speak and debate for better laws, for the betterment, for the future, for the security, for the safety and for the welfare of the people of the constituency and the state and also for ‘jaidbynriew’.”

The UDP candidate refused to comment on the performance of the former MLA Samlin Malngiang and said, “I am looking at myself, I am confident that I will win this election.”

“My uncle had stated that he will repair the damage done by the ex-MLA and I too will be a continuation of his work, I will carry forward his legacy,” he said.

Metbah sure of victory

United Democratic Party chief Metbah Lyngdoh has claimed that the people of Sohiong will ensure victory for the party candidate Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh in the upcoming election to the Sohiong seat, which will be held on May 10.

“We are very confident (to win the Sohiong seat). This is as per inputs from the people at the grassroot level, who would like to see that this time the UDP occupy the Sohiong seat,” Lyngdoh told reporters today.

He said that even people who were against the UDP in the previous elections have now made up their mind to support the candidate of the party.

Metbah said that the reason is because the people of Sohiong want to repay back their former MLA late HDR Lyngdoh for his contributions to the constituency for 25 years.

“HDR Lyngdoh was a hardworking legislator, who wanted to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Apart from his contributions, we are also lucky to get his nephew Synshar as our candidate as he has all the qualities of a good legislator,” he added.

Meanwhile, the UDP chief maintained that winning the Sohiong seat will no doubt increase the strength of the party to 12 in the 60-member House.