We’re united on quitting MDA, reiterates Mawrie

SHILLONG, Sep 20: Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie on Tuesday reiterated the party favours pulling out of the government but the decision will be taken by the central leadership.
“We are united (on the issue). It is the concern of the members. They have the right to apprise and they did so in various committees. The central leaders have been informed and they will decide,” Mawrie told reporters.
On September 3, BJP’s Meghalaya in-charge and national vice president M Chuba Ao had stated that the party might quit the MDA within a month but Mawrie said, “It is his statement and I don’t know what he meant by that.”
Ao had disclosed that the party was gathering evidence of illegalities and corruption against the MDA to set the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation after it.
Subsequently, Hek as well as Mawrie reaffirmed Ao’s statement that the party is considering withdrawing support to the MDA.
However, Rajya Sabha member and NPP state president WR Kharlukhi had termed the BJP’s threat as a farce.
NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also stated Ao’s statement was personal. He said it should not be taken as the BJP’s official stand since its top leadership would communicate with him if it has any concern which was not the case so far.
BJP reposes faith on NHRC in Bernard case
On the infamous Rimpu Bagan case and the arrest of party state vice president Bernard N Marak, Mawrie said the BJP expects the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to initiate action against the officials involved for allegedly falsely implicating and harassing many individuals in the case.
“We have seen the statements of the victims. Some of them have approached the NHRC. According to them, they have been harassed and implicated in various cases,” the BJP state chief said.
On the party’s demand for the removal of the West Garo Hills deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police, he said there are clear indications that Marak was falsely implicated.
Earlier, 24 persons, arrested in connection with the case, had petitioned the NHRC alleging they were arrested arbitrarily and ill-treated by the police. Some of them have already deposed before the commission.