SHILLONG, May 30: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has dared All India Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma to approach the court or file a complaint with independent investigating agencies if he is really concerned about illegal coal trade.
“Why does the former CM not take legal action if he has the hard evidence on the illegalities of coal? I would urge him not to make allegations only in the press. You need to go deep. We have independent investigating agencies like the CBI that can unearth the truth,” Tynsong told reporters on Monday.
He reminded Sangma of “thousands of allegations” against him and his government during his eight-year reign from 2010 to 2018.
“We may recall that the former CM was dragged into the Goodwood Bungalow controversy that died on its own. Everyone knows about this,” Tynsong said.
He said Sangma, as a mature politician, needs to think before making such statements. “It is not right to make allegations just because the election is at your doorstep,” he said.
Tynsong said this was nothing but a bid to create confusion among the voters who are wiser than some leaders think. “Let us see what happens on the day of counting. As far the NPP is concerned, we will make the people understand and vote for us,” he said.
Asked about MPCC chief, Vincent H Pala’s challenge to take legal action against an Assam-based news channel accusing former Home Minister James PK Sangma of involvement in the coal racket, Tynsong said it is impossible for the state government to go to court against thousands of such reports carried by media houses.
“If we take up cases individually, we won’t have much time to work for the state. There are not less than 1,000 such allegations since 2018. We set up a few inquiry committees for probing some serious allegations,” he said.
