SHILLONG: Ruling out possibility of talks with 10 pro-ILP groups, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has hinted that the Government could invoke the ban on bandhs and other forms of agitations as ruled by Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court.
Asked whether Government would invite the agitating groups for dialogue, the Chief Minister said “Those who are agitating should first call off their agitational programmes and as long as they continue to disrupt normal life and destroy properties Government will not talk with them.”
Indirectly referring to the possible ban on bandh and agitations, the Chief Minister said, “Government is capable of invoking various rules of the Supreme Court as well as Gauhati High Court against the sponsors’ of the bandh”
The Chief Minister asked the NGOs to provide valuable inputs to the proposed Tenancy Act for which Government would be inviting suggestions from public.
According to him, the ILP demand was just an off shoot of the violent incidents which took place in Kokrahjar last year. “The pressure groups during the number of meetings in the past had even suggested that they will cooperate with Government to set up railway line if the issue of influx is addressed and we have initiated several steps in this regard,” he said.
CM down plays MPF demand
Dr Sangma, meanwhile, ridiculed the demand of Opposition MPF seeking his resignation by saying that the Opposition coalition does not have any mandate to rule the State.
Asked to react on the view of MPF that the Chief Minister should step down, Dr Sangma said,” Stepping down? Do they have any mandate? The UDP did not mention anything on ILP in its manifesto”.
To another question on any political angle to the current unrest, the Chief Minister said “The manner in which the agitation is being carried out is questionable though the NGOs are indirectly convinced that ILP cannot be implemented in the State .”