SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma on Friday made clear his intention to tread off the beaten track in tackling the present situation in the State and said he would not be coerced into capitulating before pressure groups.
“I know that there is precedence in the past whereby pressure groups are invited for talks despite their indulgence in various violent acts during their agitations. What is worse is that the pressure groups in the past were also let off scot-free despite committing violence,” Dr. Sangma said while addressing newsmen here on Friday.
While insisting that the NGOs should be taken to task for the violence and unwarranted activities like destroying both public and private properties, he said that the Supreme Court has passed a law which has prohibited holding of bandhs and other form of agitations.
“The Government would have to abide by the law. We would land up in trouble if those people who lost their properties during these agitations filed a contempt petition in the court against the Government for not upholding the law,” Dr. Sangma said.
He also questioned, “Who would come to save me then if there is contempt procedure against me?”
The Chief Minister, however, said that the Government would be ready to hold any future dialogue with the pressure groups provided they call off their agitations.
He said that the Government is eager to create a situation where any agitation being organized in the State in the future does not result in violence and criminal activities.