Mukul completes five years in office as CM today
SHILLONG: There is nothing much to cheer about the governance under Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who completes five years in office , though interrupted, on April 20, according to the Opposition.
After three years of Congress rule under Sangma from April 20, 2010, he assumed office as Chief Minister again on March 5, 2013 after the State Assembly polls.
When contacted to comment on the five years of Mukul Sangma as Chief Minister, the NPP legislator James Sangma said sarcastically that in 2010 there were only two militant outfits, HNLC and ANVC, but in 2015 there are more than 21 militant outfits especially in Garo Hills indicating the worsening law and order situation in Garo Hills.
From April 20, 2010 to March 5, 2013, Sangma became the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the first time replacing Congress veteran DD Lapang, who was in power from May 13, 2009 to April 19, 2010 after a brief spell of President’s rule from March 18, 2009 to May 12 of the same year.
In fact it was first the Congress under the leadership of Lapang who formed the Government on March 4, 2008, soon after the Assembly elections which, however, lasted only for 16 days. Following this, the UDP-NPP combined got an opportunity to form the Government for just one year under the leadership of Donkupar Roy from March 19, 2008. However, this Government was toppled by the Congress resulting in the imposition of the President’s rule.
After the Assembly elections in 2013, Mukul Sangma was again made the Chief Minister with the support of 29 Congress legislators, 2 NCP members and 11 Independents.
The NPP legislator James Sangma said that there were no signs of positive development during the five year tenure of Chief Minister.
“Crime against women is on the rise, so also is the militancy graph in Garo Hills. From just 2 militant groups, there are more than 21 groups in Garo Hills”, Sangma said.
Corruption is another factor which marked the five year rule of Mukul Sangma, according to NPP leader.
The NPP also wondered as to why no action was taken by the Chief Minister against persons including the Cabinet Minister at the helm of affairs in education department for the education scam whereas the Chief Minister was prompt in taking action against another cabinet minister for the alleged links with a militant group.
He also criticized the Chief Minister for carrying out both domestic and foreign tours thereby giving little time to address the various needs of the people in State.
The tours of the Chief Minister also resulted in draining the state exchequer as there is severe financial crunch, he added.
The working president of UDP and former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong said that there are more failures than success stories during the five year tenure of the Chief Minister
The Chief Minister has made a lot of promises, but he failed to fulfill the same. “We also want to know how he will set up the much promised Times Square in Polo”, Lanong said.
“Whenever the Chief Minister comes back from foreign tours, he makes a lot of promises in terms of rice cultivation after the Manila visit, improvement in piggery and bamboo cultivation after other foreign visits, but they are yet to materialize”, Lanong said.
He also said the Government led by Mukul Sangma has mishandled the NGT ban on coal mining resulting in death of three persons.
According to Lanong, the Mookhep firing incident which resulted in the death of two villagers should have been avoided. Moreover, a police officer posted in Ri Bhoi was also killed during the NGT ban and the perpetrators of the crime are yet to be arrested.
Lack of proper maintenance of road all over the state, perennial traffic snarl, power shortage, lack of employment opportunities and health care are other concerns , Lanong said.
Expressing concern over the law and order situation in Garo Hills where many policemen were killed, Lanong said that when police personnel themselves are insecure, what would be the plight of the common man.