Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has demanded an independent enquiry into the unrest in Garo Hills, warning that a prevailing narrative of random and indiscriminate arrests by law enforcement without proper verification risks miscarriage of justice, deepening public unrest and implicating innocent persons while allowing the real culprits to go unidentified.
Flagging concerns over the manner of enforcement, Dr Sangma said, “there’s a perception which is circulated or in other words, I will say that overall circulation of narrative which is creating a general perception that law enforcement authorities are carrying out arrests in random and indiscriminate manner without proper verification of facts or involvement.”
He cautioned, “Such perceptive actions can lead to Miscarriage of Justice, could agreeviate also a situation or otherwise the public unrest and risk of implicating in inocent persons while the real culprits may remain unidentified,” adding that “It is very important that arrests made merely to demonstrate action or to diffuse immediate pressure may result in deteriorating law and order situation and rather than restoring the trust and confidence.”
Calling for transparency in governance, he said, “Every action order of the authorities must be seen as being done on good faith with no bias but in transparent manner with the sole intent of ensuring administration of justice in the right earnest without any favour or I’ll will,” and added, “Therefore, I will be taking up this issue with the Chief Minister,” Dr Sangma said.
Making a strong pitch for an institutional probe, he said, “again, I personally feel after having consulted with my other colleagues, that it is necessary to have an independent enquiry by invoking the provision of the law under the Commission of enquiry act 1952,” adding, “Let there be a commission of enquiry, Which will go into the details about the Genesis Etc and which can be seen as a sincere efforts of the state government without any bias.”
Underscoring the need for a fact-based investigation, he said, “It is very important for Proper investigation to collect the kind of inputs, which is consistent with the actual incidents at the ground zero and therefore, leaving no room for the negative narrative,” while warning against “overall perceptions that the authorities are taking advantage of the situation to settle some personals Scores or etc,” Dr Sangma said.
He further noted, “There can be all kinds of narrative, which can be circulated and this is something which is actually happening,” and added, “the government must take cognisance of these things,” stressing that “any such enquiry under mandate of irrelevant law does give us space to instill trust and confidence amongst people.”
Emphasising accountability, he said, “It cannot be one-sided,” adding, “Then it will be seen as something which is being done with the honest intention to really look at the causes and the measures required as per the law to take cognisance of any lapses or omission or commission from all sides, including from the sides of the authorities,” Dr Sangma said, noting that “I have submitted a memorandum to the Governor today.”
Responding to remarks by senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, he said, “I think, with Respectfully, I will say that he also has not done his homework well,” adding, “It seems to be more reactionary than actual sincere attempt to address the concern and issues.”
He further said, “it cannot be ruled out, whether there was lots and conspiracy hatched by vested interests, Or any other forces, external forces inimical to the National interest,” while maintaining that “There are many ways of unearthing the truth, and finding the truth.”
On whether there was an intelligence failure, Dr Sangma said, “I am not trying to Point finger at anybody at this juncture,” adding that “there are two important things. One is to restore normalcy, instill confidence and trust.”
He stressed, “This can happen when the issue which is very highly sensitive in nature is address and resolve Once for all,” adding that “These proposal that I am proposing will Provide All clarity in a transparent manner is to where was the lapses? Where were the commission and commission? Where were the plots are conspiracy?”
Highlighting the immediate priority, he said, “our result today is to see that normalcy as being restored,” while expressing gratitude, “All Senior citizens and Leaders Of different ways… Particularly the church leaders who have Put all their efforts together, collectively To reach out to all agitating Minds and Contribute to the extent possible for restoration of normalcy,” the former Chief Minister added.
