By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Easing the tension in Mairang Civil Sub Division over the new district issue, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the government will consider Mairang on “priority” when the government is in a position to create new districts in the state.
This statement was made a day after the announcement of Mawkyrwat as the fourth civil sub-division to be upgraded into a district following the demand by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) from Mairang for upgradation of Mairang civil sub-division into a district.
“The chief minister assured us that as and when the government is in a position to create more new districts then Mairang will be considered,,” JAC secretary Bobby Basaiawmoit told reporters after the meeting with Dr Sangma here on Thursday.
However, Dr Sangma did not give any assurance to the JAC regarding the time frame for uplifting Mairang into a district.
The JAC was accompanied by Mairang MLA Metbah Lyngdoh during the meeting with chief minister.
“We will convey the message to the people and then take collective decision on what they should do”, Basaiawmoit stated.
Earlier during the day, Leader of opposition Conrad K Sangma raised the issue in the assembly stating that people have complained that the JAC members who were fasting demanding district for Mairang were manhandled by police while taking them back to Mairang.
However, raising a point of order, deputy chief minister (parliamentary affairs) Rowell Lyngdoh objected Conrad for raising the issue as it was not as per rule and procedure of the conduct of the house.
Defending his statement, Conrad said “This is a matter of serious concern as I consider that lives of people is more important than the rules,” while demanding the chief minister to make some statement on the issue.
On this, the chief minister reiterated that it was not necessary for the people to agitate as the government would continue to do its due diligence by examining the fiscal health of the state to ensure that more districts in the state would be created.
Replying on the issue of alleged manhandling of the JAC members, Dr Sangma informed that these allegations were not true as he had already verified from the officers including chief secretary WMS Pariat.
“The fact was, the JAC members resisted when police asked them to get down from the vehicle,” the chief minister claimed.
Soon after, Mairang legislator Metbah Lyngdoh also stood up and informed the house that being the MLA from the area, he had personally taken up the matter with the chief minister.
“I have also requested the chief minister for a meeting with the JAC members on the issue, since I am more concern than others being the MLA from the area,” Lyngdoh said.
Further stressing on manhandling of police, Leader of opposition again suggested that when it comes to matter handling the people, the functioning of police should ensure that people feel safe.
“I am not saying that all police people are not good. But my point is, police should handle people properly and proper format should be adopted. I am happy that the MLA from Mairang has taken up the matter especially for facilitating a meeting between the agitators with the government to settle the problem,” Conrad said.