SHILLONG: Activists and opposition party leaders in the city may cry their lungs out for the resignation of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh but his loyal supporters in Sohiong constituency see no reason behind such demand.
The supporters of Lyngdoh, lovingly called ‘Maheh’ in his constituency, said he has no role in the trafficking racket involving a minor girl and that it was wrong to demand his resignation.
Though the Minister was not present at the meeting called by the Sohiong Block Congress Committee on Monday, it was palpably clear that the HDR loyalists did not want him to step down from the Cabinet post.
Shngain Kharjana, chairman of the Committee, said, “Our MLA has no role in the racket. He has given the police department a free hand to investigate so that justice is delivered to the victim.”
The meeting was to clear the air on the Minister’s involvement since his family owns Marvelene’s Inn, which was the genesis of the trafficking row. CSWO and TUR activists have been demanding Lyngdoh’s resignation.
“We urge Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to thoroughly examine the demand to drop him from the ministerial post,” Kharjana told the gathering.
Voicing a strong protest against the NGOs’ demand, he said, “The NGOs which are demanding that he should step down should justify whether he has a role in the trafficking case.”
Kharjana asked the supporters, who had gathered outside in the afternoon, whether they agree to the demand of CSWO and TUR as well as some politicians, the people shouted, “Em, em (no, no).”
The chairman proceeded to ask a few supporters from the crowd to come forward and air their views on the demands of CSWO and TUR. One person said, “We oppose the demand of the NGOs. If he is involved then we will ask him to step down but since he is not involved, we will not allow people to tarnish his image. It is unacceptable to us.”
Alleging that it is a personal issue, another person said, “Why is the FIR not filed against the other guests house and why only Marvelene’s Inn? It is a personal issue. We don’t need people from Shillong to voice their opinion on his stepping down, if he is guilty, then we will demand him to step down.”
Another woman supporter alleged that it was jealousy that has taken the turn to make people point their fingers at the Minister.
Phrang Kharpran, president of Sohiong Block Congress Committee, said, “If he (Lyngdoh) is guilty, then we will do the needful.”
He informed the people that there will be a public meeting on January 14 to discuss the agenda in connection with the inauguration of Sohiong C&RD block, opening of Umiam Bridge to Nongpathaw and the laying of the foundation stone for the market complex. It is expected that the inaugurations will be in February.
