SHILLONG, Jan 17: The Voice of the People Party will organise a sit-in demonstration in front of the Meghalaya Secretariat during office hours on Friday to protest the failure of the Conrad K Sangma-led MDA II government in responding to the call to reinstate three sacked Lokayukta officials.
There will be another demonstration on January 22 if the government fails to heed its demand, VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said on Wednesday.
He said the termination of the services of the three officials was not only an injustice and insult to them but to the entire state. “It is, therefore, the duty of every right-thinking citizen to join in the protest and bring this government to its knees,” he added.
He appealed to all those who would participate in the protest to refrain from any action that violates the law and disturbs peace and tranquillity. The party would not take any responsibility for such persons.
Earlier in the day, the state government said the termination of the services of the contractual officials was within the rules.
“We have already clarified. Let them (the VPP leaders) read the Lokayukta Act first before complaining,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said.
“The rules say that the officials of Lokayukta should be working officers,” he added.
Anyone can say anything but the government has to think over a hundred times while cancelling political appointments or terminating the services of contractual staff in any office, Tynsong said.
It may be noted that the VPP has also demanded that all political appointees from various boards, commissions, and bodies step down.
“I would like to bring to your attention the numerous political appointees that your government has appointed to various boards, commissions, and bodies. It is a well-known fact that these political appointees serve no public purpose other than tolerating needless draining and waste of public resources,” the VPP said in a letter to the CM, adding that the government has failed to provide the necessary services to the people and such appointments are an eyesore to the public.
