Sawkmie, Adelbert hope shifting will solve unrest

SHILLONG: Two legislators representing the violence affected areas of the city are hopeful that relocation of the residents of Punjabi Lane will solve the current unrest.
“We are happy that the government has constituted a committee for the shifting of Sweepers’ Lane”, the Opposition Chief Whip and Mawlai legislator P.T Sawkmie said on Thursday.
He also admitted that the protests in the past few days had also affected his constituency.
According to Sawkmie, there was failure on the part of the police to prevent the flare-up in time.
Sawkmie termed as immature the statement of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma about the use of liquor and money during the agitation.
To a question, the Mawlai legislator said there was no political angle and added that Congress will be a strong opposition.
He asserted that the party is not interested in any toppling game since the present  government is not even three months old.
North Shillong legislator Adelbert Nongrum said the present government should fulfill the promises made to the people regarding relocating Sweepers’ Lane.
The past governments only made promises and we hope that the present government would be able to solve the issue, he said.
“We are not talking about any eviction, but it is a relocation”, Nongrum added.
To a question, Nongrum said that since there are court cases, the issue can be solved through negotiation and talks.
According to Nongrum, the police failed to act in time resulting in the chaotic situation on May 31.
Stating that there are reports about the Sweepers’ Lane becoming a hub of crime, Nongrum said that beautification of the area is the need of the hour.
Denying any political angle on the unrest, Nongrum said the statement of the chief minister that the agitation was funded and liquor and money were used, is childish.