Home minister in James’ line of fire for ‘watchdog’ remark

SHILLONG: Dadenggre MLA James Sangma has accused the State government of failing in its duty to protect women and children from the growing incidents of crime against them.
Participating in the debate on the Governor’s address, Sangma said instead of celebrating International Women’s Day, women in the State are being subjected to harassment, abuse, rape, trafficking and murder.
Slamming Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh over his statement on Tuesday that he “is not a watchdog and crimes can take place anywhere”, Sangma said Lyngdoh should take the responsibility for the security of people since he is the Home minister of the State.
“It is sad for Meghalaya when the Home minister in the temple of democracy says that crime against women is not his responsibility and he is not a watchman,” Sangma said while accusing the State government of shrugging off responsibility of protecting its people.
The NPP legislator also castigated the government over its inability to provide rehabilitation package to surrendered insurgents saying the government has, till date, not kept its promise of providing rehabilitation.
Fearing that the surrendered insurgents may go back to the jungle if government support is delayed, the NPP leader said the policy of the government is flawed.
While asking the government to address the root causes of militancy in the State, Sangma said the Congress-led government should tackle the problem by creating employment for youths and developing the rural areas as promised in the manifesto of the party.
Meanwhile, Sangma also attacked the State government for not approving the name of the nominated MDC in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) saying the nomination was sent last November but the government is yet to decide.
“There is a deliberate attempt by the government to stall the appointment of the nominated MDC in GHADC because it is not a Congress-led EC,” he said.
Sangma also raised several issues ranging from pay parity of teachers, grievances of SSA teachers, non-completion of Shillong and Tura medical colleges, besides the two abattoirs in Shillong and Jowai.