By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 21: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has asked Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member, Pyniaid Sing Syiem to retract his statement if he cannot prove what he alleged.
Syiem had claimed that some people arrested by the police recently for their involvement in the alleged illegal collection at the forest check gate of the council at Mawlai Mawiong are UDP supporters.
Upping the ante on Syiem, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said, “I feel he should come out with a statement and furnish the list of those names. He is the one who made the allegation and he should clarify.”
“He should take back his words. He made a hollow statement which has no basis,” Mawthoh further said.
A day after the UDP had dared Syiem to provide the names of its supporters along with evidence substantiating their involvement in the alleged collection of illegal taxes, the latter advised the party to collect the details from former KHADC CEM, Titosstarwell Chyne.
“Look at his response. Instead of replying, he is throwing the buck on the ex- CEM which is not right. That should not be the response and not a befitting reply,” Mawthoh said.
He recalled, “After what came out in the papers, I had made a statement about the illegal toll gates. I had reiterated because the government told the KHADC time and again to shut down the illegal toll gates. We have not accused anybody. We are just saying that anything that is illegal should be nipped in the bud and therefore, if there are illegal toll gates, efforts should be made to close them down.”
“But what is surprising is that the KHADC CEM instead of replying befittingly or appropriately to the question that was raised, he started targeting the UDP,” Mawthoh said.
A day after the UDP dared KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Pyniaid Sing Syiem to provide the names of its supporters along with evidence substantiating their involvement in the alleged collection of illegal taxes from check gates, the latter advised the party to collect the details from former CEM, Titosstarwell Chyne.
“I am sure the former CEM would be able to provide his party with all the evidences and details since he knows better as to what was going on,” Syiem said on Wednesday.