Misinformation campaign
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak on Saturday slammed police for providing misleading information to the media regarding her function at a village in Williamnagar and added that she had gone along with Deputy Commissioner and the catholic missionaries to inaugurate a school and not to meet any militants.
Reacting to a news report regarding the worry of the police about her visit without taking security to the Dorenkigre village across Simsang river which falls under her constituency, the Minister said that she had already informed the police in advance about her visit to the village.
“Strangely, there were no presence of police personnel indicating that they are more afraid than the villagers and visitors to the village”, Marak said on Saturday.
According to Marak, it is her duty as a minister and local legislator to meet the people of the constituency and attend functions with or without security.
She also questioned police over their lack of information about the inauguration of the school at the village and added that instead, the police were worried as if the minister was going to scuttle the operations against the militants.
“I will be happy, if the police gives me round the clock security so that there will be transparency regarding my meetings with any one”, she said.
The minister also said that she was very much available in her cell phone to any media query on Friday.
UDP concerned over nexus
Earlier, UDP leader Bindo Lanong after the meeting of the general council of the party told reporters on Saturday that the stand of many who believe that the government was hand in glove with militants was vindicated in the wake of the visit of the social welfare minister in the militant infested area in Williamnagar as (eported in the media.
How can people in power move freely at a time poor people are kidnapped, Lanong asked.
“The nexus between militants and politicians is a matter of concern, and the matter should be investigated by CBI to find out the distance between militants and political leaders”, Lanong said