Cong mum on sex-trafficking, crimes against fair sex

SHILLONG: The ruling Congress is silent on the sex-trafficking case involving the 14-year-old girl and other recent incidents of rape against minors and women in different parts of the State.
Neither MPCC chief D.D Lapang nor Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has aired any opinion on the matter till date.
Besides, Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) president Richard Marak, who is otherwise vocal on social issues and demonetization, have not condemned the incidents, including rape cases from Garo Hills.
The Mahila Congress leaders are also tightlipped on the issue.
Sources said since Congress Minister HDR Lyngdoh’s name figured in the matter as his family is running Marvelene’s Inn at Rilbong, where the rape and trafficking case of the minor girl first surfaced, the Congress may be reluctant to speak out.
There is growing demand from several quarters for HDR to relinquish his portfolio as according to critics, propriety demands that he should quit to facilitate a fair probe by the police.
TUR and CSWO have already filed FIR against the owners of Marvelene’s Inn asking the police to book them under provisions of POCSO. However, the case has not progressed.
Though a few Congress leaders were contacted, they were not ready to give any reaction on the current episode.
UDP chief Donkupar Roy recently said instead of fighting against demonetisation, the Congress should have at least taken steps to address the plaguing issues like rapes and other sorts of crimes against women in the State.
Other political parties were also not so prompt in their reaction to these crimes as there were late reactions from major political parties, including UDP, BJP and NPP. Though there was no official statement from HSPDP on the matter, HSPDP supremo Ardent Basaiawmoit had supported the protest rally against the incident organised by the pressure groups.
KHNAM leader Adelbert Nongrum was present during the rally.
The KHNAM youth wing was the first one to react followed by the women’s wing of KSU though it does not have any political affiliation.