Mukul finds a ‘malafide intention’
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday dismissed the demand for repeal of the MPDA and the MMPO, saying that the Acts were passed by the Assembly after Cabinet approval.
Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, a day after Thma-U-Rangli-Juki (TUR), a progressive people’s organisation, organised a street corner meeting to demand repeal of the two Acts, the Chief Minister asserted that the no law can be implemented without it getting passed by either the Parliament or the State Assembly.
“The demand reflects the malafide intention to confuse and misguide people and it is now evident that they want to create confusion and law and order problems,” Dr Sangma said.
“It is clear that the people who have made the allegations have lack of knowledge since now laws can be enforced without getting it passed from the Assembly or the Parliament,” he argued, adding, “If their intention is to create law and order problems than it can be considered as criminal conspiracy.”
He also said that laws meant for protecting the interests of the people and the State have been in existence for years, while pointing out that his Government had not introduced the MPDA but only amended it as and when it was felt necessary.
‘Govt has its reasons for rejection of ILP demand’
Reiterating that the State Government has its reasons for its stand against the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the State, Dr Sangma on Tuesday asserted that there was no reason for the pressure groups to remain adamant on only one mechanism.
Pointing out that ILP would only hamper the development of the State, the Chief Minister reminded the pro-ILP groups that the ‘Government is working hard to impress upon the Central Government the need for various developmental programmes in the State’.
Asserting that there is no reason for the pressure groups to remain adamant on only one mechanism, Dr Sangma asked the pro-ILP pressure groups to give up their adamant attitude and come forward with suggestions and mechanisms to deal with the issue of influx in the best possible way.
The Chief Minister said that if the pressure groups are really concerned about influx, this is the right opportunity for them to chip in with suggestions and mechanism since the Government is working towards a holistic and institutionalised mechanism to deal with the issue of influx.
“If we are concerned about influx, we should come out with a positive mechanism,” he stated.
Meanwhile, reacting strongly to the statements of the UDP that the rejection of the ILP demand in the State by the Congress-ruled Union Government is a ‘political ploy’, Dr Sangma minced no words in attacking the Opposition parties accusing them of creating confusion in the minds of the people. “It will be appropriate for them not to term it as a political ploy and create confusion in the minds of people,” Dr Sangma said, while taking care not to name any political party or leader.