SHILLONG, March 2: The BJP on Wednesday reiterated its demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged illegal mining of coal and its transportation in the state.
BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie said the debate on the issue is not restricted to political circles and he has heard the common citizens are also expressing their concern over it.
“So, it is important the government institute a CBI inquiry to clear the doubts if illegal mining and transportation of coal are really taking place,” he said.
On the state government’s repeated denial of the illegal activities, he said the issue is out in the open and the High Court of Meghalaya has also taken cognisance of it.
“It is good to see that the court has taken the initiative to direct the Chief Secretary and the DGP (Director-General of Police) to submit a report. Let’s wait for the court’s decision,” Mawrie said.
The Congress also said it will wait for the court’s final judgment before announcing its next move.
BJP awaits CM’s reply
on Congress MLAs
Mawrie said the BJP’s stand vis-à-vis the entry of the five suspended Congress MLAs into the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government will not change even if they are expelled from the party.
He said the reason the BJP had written to Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma was that the coalition members were not consulted before welcoming the MLAs.
“Things will not change even if the five MLAs are expelled (by the Congress) as our chief contention was that the CM should have consulted us,” Mawrie said.
He said the BJP’s decision to write to the CM was taken during the party’s core committee meeting which was attended by its national vice president and Meghalaya in-charge, M Chuba Ao and the two party MLAs – AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai.
“I had personally gone to hand over the letter to the CM. I had requested him to give the reasons for the inclusion of the five Congress MLAs. We are yet to get a reply from him,” the BJP state chief said.
According to him, the CM had assured to give a proper reply. “We are disappointed as the CM has not taken our letter seriously. We had expected that he would reply to us immediately,” Mawrie said.
To a query, he said the BJP will be more than happy to welcome the five Congress MLAs to its fold.
“The BJP’s slogan is Congress-mukt Bharat. We are happy the Congress is losing all its MLAs in the state,” Mawrie said.
Claiming that the BJP has received feelers from some sitting MLAs and MDCs, he said any political leader, who wishes to join the BJP, will have to conform to the party’s ideology.
