Mukul never made any such assertion, says Joint Secy to CM
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government has denied media reports that the State Government is mulling to declare some parts of Garo Hills as ‘disturbed area’.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister, R.P. Marak, asserted that the Chief Minister, at no point of time, had indicated that the Government was planning to declare some parts of Garo Hills as ‘disturbed area’.
The statement further clarified that comprehensive action plan utilizing all the resources under the State’s command has already been chalked out by the State Government to deal effectively with the problems of militant organizations in the state.
BJP against ‘disturbed area’ tag for Garo Hills
The State BJP is not in favour of bringing in the army or declaring Garo Hills as a ‘disturbed area’ to ensure better law and order situation in Garo Hills.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, State BJP president Khlur Sing Lyngdoh and State BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty suggested that the State Government can do many things to control the situation in Garo Hills.
“We are keeping in touch with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, who is also the BJP central leader in charge Meghalaya on the Garo Hills situation,” Lyngdoh added.
According to Lyngdoh, the situation in Garo Hills was still grave, but army operation is not a solution. “The State Government should take more effective steps to control the situation,” he added.
The State BJP leaders also refused to comment on the demand from other Opposition political parties in the State to impose President’s Rule in Meghalaya in view of the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills.
The BJP leaders said that it is not the intention of the party to topple any Government unlike the Congress.
The State BJP leadership, however, favoured a high-level probe into the politico-militant nexus.
On the Garo Hills situation, the State BJP general secretary said that it was strange that the State Home Minister Roshan Warjri had not taken up the matter with the Centre. “The Home Minister is not competent enough to deal with the situation,” he added.
The State BJP president further said that despite the worsening law and order situation the Congress Government in the State had been complacent considering the support it had from the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.