SHILLONG: The Opposition National People’s Party (NPP) has pointed to lack of political will on the part of the Mukul Sangma-led Government in tackling insurgency in Garo Hills.
Referring to the reports on a move on the part of the Government to declare Garo Hills as disturbed area, the NPP legislator said, “The State Police are competent and motivated enough to tackle the situation. It is because of the apparent lack of political will and strong and effective leadership that the problem of insurgency has still remained unsolved.”
Vehemently opposing the move by the Mukul Sangma Government to declare Garo Hills as disturbed area, James said, “It shows the inefficiency of Mukul Sangma as he is resorting to Army intervention due to his complete failure in handling the law and order situation in Garo Hills. The people of Garo Hills want to know why they should be made to suffer for his incompetency. It is a known fact that Army operations in Garo Hills will result in excesses and human rights violations.”
The NPP legislator also expressed his party’s dissatisfaction over the statement made by R.P. Marak, Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister, wherein he has denied any move to declare Garo Hills as a disturbed area.
“The move to declare any region as a disturbed area is a political decision over which an officer cannot make an announcement. Therefore any statement made by an officer holds no water and is meaningless especially so since Dr. Mukul himself had categorically indicated declaring Garo Hills as a disturbed area,” James said.