Phidalia serves notice to Paul for apology

SHILLONG, July 3: Former chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), Phidalia Toi has issued a pleader notice to Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh demanding a public apology within 15 days for defaming her.
The pleader notice was issued on Saturday through her lawyer, Erwin K. Sutnga.
Toi’s contention was that the social welfare minister did not follow the rules laid down in the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act, 2005, with the sole intention to defame her in the eyes of the public.
Referring to Section 4 of the Act, she said the minister should have first issued her a show-cause notice before announcing her removal from office.
She also made it clear that her legal fight “is not to get reinstated but against his (Lyngdoh’s) gender-based discrimination, abuse of power and character assassination.
The social welfare minister had in two conferences justified the decision to remove Toi as the MSWC chairperson, claiming that she did not attend board meetings and campaigned during elections.
Toi had claimed that the Jowai NPP candidate (Wailadmiki Shylla) was her cousin’s son.
In her defence, she said that she only accompanied him to the office of the deputy commissioner but did not enter the office after a prayer meeting held at her residence.
“The issue regarding the Election Commission is between me and the ECI and I have already clarified my position to the ECI,” she said.
The former chairperson of the MSWC also reiterated that she had attended all the required board meetings of the commission.