Is Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma hinting that the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills is being made a scapegoat by the government? Launching a sharp attack in the wake of the recent mine tragedy, Dr Sangma on Monday questioned the transfer of the district SP, alleged a deep-rooted and well-scripted nexus behind illegal coal mining, and asserted that to put an end to illegalities this government should go. He demanded that an independent enquiry be instituted immediately, saying the scale of illegality has reached a point where precious lives are being lost.
Questioning the recent administrative action, he said, “Now you land up transferring East Jaintia Hills SP, How does it help? How does it help? Was the SP there from before? Because this illegalities has not been happening to reach to this scale. The scale of illegalities itself prove beyond reasonable doubt that there is definitely complicity between the authorities and the perpetrators of this illegal activities.”
Alleging systemic complicity, Dr Sangma said, “This is only a fallout the illegality which was allowed to go on by the authorities concern, on number of occasions, I have made it abundantly clear that when illegalities of this scale which is visible to every common man cannot take place unless there is a complicity between the authorities and the perpetrators of these illegal act. That’s the reason why I felt it necessary that time has gone to urge upon the government that to say enough is enough.”
He declared, “Therefore, what is important today is that if you want to put an end to illegalities this government should go. So long you allow this government , this illegalities will continue mark my words.”
Detailing the alleged pattern, he said, “It is nothing, that is unpredictable, the way things are happening, the way the illegal extraction of coal is taking place, the way the illegal storage is taking place, the way the illegal Coal Transportation is taking place, the way the roads are being destroyed by the overloaded trucks who are carrying the illegally extracted coal to the designated market and again the whole illegal sell of coal across the state. How is it not visible to anybody? It is visible for anybody.”
He further stated, “And take the bull by its horn and show that you have the sincere and committed intent to really stop this illegalities, protect the interest of the people, protect the interest of the state. The government of the day, has in fact allowed these modus operandi to continue. I have always referred these to a well scripted Modus operandi and this Modus operandi is predictable.”
Referring to central agency action, he added, “Then again, the instances of Enforcement Directorate raid, which again disclose that there has been such a Modus operandi, where illegal activities was connected with Illegal collection of money. So therefore the kind of deep rooted Complicity cannot be ruled involving people in authority and the perpetrators of this crime.”
On the scale of the tragedy, Dr Sangma said, “Today what we saw in the recent days, in the presiding months, is a complete reflection rather an evidence which can be considered as a proof beyond any reasonable doubt that the illegality in respect of Illegal coal mining, Illegal storage of illegally extracted coal, and illegal Transportation of such illegally extracted coal and their Modus operandi of selling it illegally has only grown in scales over the years. The skill of this illegality is reflected by the recent incident. It is a proof that the scale of these illegality has been allowed to grow to such an extent that today you have such an unfortunate incident Which proves beyond reasonable doubt that illegality of this nature has reached this scale where you have such a huge, I must say an incident where you have such a loss of precious lives of too many people. You don’t even know, actually, how many people have lost their lives because the kind of situation that resulted in the death, that tragic accident, the mine tragedy, So-Called Dynamic blast resulting in this mine tragedy.”
Explaining why he attempted to move a resolution, he said, “Therefore I came up with his resolution to be moved in the August house, knowing fully well that the rules doesn’t allow me. The rules for the procedure of conduct of business in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly doesn’t allow any matter to be brought in the form of resolution for discussion and adoption by the August house as a resolution if the matter is subjudice.”
Questioning the handling of the pending PIL, he said, “2022 the PIL have been filled and government very cleverly is ensuring that all other new instances of illegalities are also clubbed into the same PIL. A justice delayed is justice denied, therefore, I expect and I still have the hope in overall wisdom of the judiciary that the court will take cognizance of this and take recourse to a decision who should have positive remification to put a hold instantly. That is what is needed and allow an independent enquiry.”
Hitting out at the Conrad Sangma-led government in the state, Dr Sangma said, “In the floor of the house, repeated times the attention of the Government was drawn, how many times the chief minister himself who was in-charge of mining and geology have with so much of confidence engage in denial mode. Therefore, what is the scope for the elected representatives, the August house doesn’t have scope of discussing this because rule doesn’t allow us. The people in authority knows it very well, so they weaponising their knowledge about the law.”
He added, “Now therefore having seen what is happening, I have reasons to believe that the people in authority, they do not have the intent to protect the interest of the state and protect the interest of the people.”
Calling for central intervention and prosecution of those responsible, he said, “Therefore, the government of India must take cognizance of this issue and all these enquiries for whatever decision they have to make must be shouldered by Government of India. If the people in authority fails to take cognizance they must be prosecuted.”
Making a final appeal, he said, “I love the state, I love the people. Have you seen what is going on? It is time that we must put an end to this, unless he does his own. Then the people have to come and ask for his resignation. It is not enough for only the elected leaders to say that ok because of this you must take moral responsibility. Moral responsibility in terms of any such crime of fall out which is a result of mismanagement, complete pathetic failure of administration and governance.”
‘Government Should Go’: Mukul Sangma Hints at SP Being Made Scapegoat, Seeks Independent Probe into Illegal Coal Nexus
