Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya, Congress MLA, Mukul Sangma never misses an opportunity to point fingers at the MDA Government. Whether it is in the illegal transportation of coal or the MDA Government’s new initiative to offer the olive branch to the now atrophied Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), the Opposition Congress has spared no pains to put the Government in the docks. Does being in the Opposition also mean a daily trading of charges at the ruling government? Is that the only role of the Opposition?
The Opposition is an essential part of the democratic process but what is expected from it is effective criticism; not a daily litany of accusations. People expect the Opposition to check corruption, defective administration and other excesses perpetrated by the ruling government. To enable a functional democracy it is important that the Government governs openly and honestly and that it meets criticism by rational argument. The Leader of the Opposition (LO) holds a position of responsibility and accountability too. When he points a finger at the Government he should be sure that his own Government did not tread that same path only a few months ago. The MUA while in power could not come up with a white paper on Mining and after the NGT ban in April 2014, coal has been illegally mined and also illegally carted away while the Congress was in the driving seat. How can it be forgotten that a young police official was shot dead in Ri Bhoi district for opposing that illegal transportation of coal?
Perhaps the Congress Party because of its being in the opposition by a slim minority is even more keen to keep the present Government on its toes and embarrass it at every given opportunity. The LO and the Congress Party have been playing that role to the hilt. Unfortunately, most of the accusations levelled by the Opposition now are the very same ones they had indulged in earlier. The surrender of some factions of Garo militants was a big show held in Tura sometime ago. No one protested then; no one accused the Congress Party and the present LO of making overtures to militants. Hence what is good for militants in Garo Hills should be good for those in Khasi Hills too. That’s what the present Government is trying to say. And since all governments have given undue importance to surrendered militants none should be pointing fingers at the other.