SHILLONG, Oct 19: The Congress is pretty sure the state government will not respect the order of the High Court of Meghalaya to ensure that “not an ounce of illegally-mined coal” is allowed to pass through the state.
Given his past observations, state Congress president Vincent H Pala on Wednesday said he does not expect the government to honour the court’s order.
“I have seen the headlines but I know the High Court order will not be respected by the state government. Supreme Court and NGT orders have not been respected, so definitely they won’t,” he said.
“From what I have seen so far, the state government will not be able to survive without illegalities, whether in drugs, coal or liquor. There is heavy money flow,” the Shillong MP said.
He claimed the state government is “smeared with illegalities”. He alleged it has already started distributing money in view of Assembly elections, due early next year.
Stating that everyone must obey law, he said, “This government does not obey even its own laws. For example, there is a law that prohibits teachers’ involvement in politics but the chief minister’s adviser is a teacher.”
He said the government servants have earlier been declared as candidates while alleging that the CM has welcomed many a teachers on the stage of political gatherings.
Law is only for the poor. There is no law for those in power, the Congress leader added.
The High Court had on Tuesday directed Chief Secretary DP Wahlang and Director-General of Police LR Bishnoi to ensure that “not an ounce of illegally-mined coal” is allowed to pass through the state, whether in trucks or other vehicles.
The full bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justice W Diengdoh and Justice HS Thangkhiew also directed the two officials and all other police personnel to ensure strict compliance in such regard without “bowing to any political interference”.
