SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has taken exception to the circulation of the conversation between the secretary of one of the village dorbars and Water Resources Minister H Brodling Nongsiej on social media where the minister allegedly refused to stop the ongoing construction of a retaining wall.
“The aggrieved person should have lodged a complaint to the officer concerned if the minister had refused to listen to the request instead of circulating the telephonic conversation on social media.”
“This act shows the secretary was trying to play politics. I am very disappointed since my conversation with the same person was recorded when I tried to clarify on this matter, which suggests there is some mala fide intention,” Tynsong told reporters on Friday.
Stating that this is not the time to play politics amid an outbreak of COVID-19, he said, “Those who are trying to play pity politics should leave us alone.”
According to the deputy chief minister, it is the responsibility of the officer concerned to close down the work if there are such cases.
“The aggrieved person should have complained through a proper channel. I am sure that the authorities concerned would take action if there is any violation of the order issued by the government,” he said.
It may be mentioned as per the conversation which was circulated on social media, the Water Resources Minister had refused to comply with the request of the secretary of the village dorbar to stop in the work.
The minister instead asked the village dorbar to give in writing since they were asking them to stop the construction of a retaining wall in the village.
Nongsiej even said his workers were maintaining social distancing since there were few of them working and the retaining wall is around three meters tall.
