SHILLONG: The eight-month-old Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance-II is struggling to address various burning issues confronting the State under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
The law and order problems in Garo Hills and in the borders, the prolonged agitations over the issue of ILP are the major concerns which the MUA-II are unable to handle.
Despite the deteriorating law and order situation, there was no condemnation from the Chief Minster on the killing of five police personnel in South Garo Hills recently.
The Chief Minister, who is very often out of station (now back in Tura after Slovakia trip), is yet to appoint any senior cabinet minister or the Chief Secretary to speak to the agitating pro-ILP groups.
Moreover, in the absence of the Chief Minister in the state capital, the State Cabinet, which otherwise should have assessed the law and order situation in Garo Hills by calling an emergency meeting, remained mute and the only statement was from the Home Minister Roshan Warjri and the police officials.
A minister in the cabinet admitted that the ministers did not have any discussion in the cabinet on the prevailing situation whether it is the demand for ILP or the law and order situation in Garo Hills, though the ILP issue was discussed in the meeting of the MUA and the CLP.
Unlike the past Chief Ministers who always tried to amicably solve the issues concerning the state, Sangma resorted to buying time, hoping that the issues will be solved in the long run when the opponents will have no other option than to succumb to the pressure of the Government.
However, the current reality is different as there is no respite from the agitation of the NGOs who are demanding the implementation of ILP. Besides there is no let up in violence perpetrated by militant groups in the State.
The Chief Minister, who hails from Garo Hills, took the militancy scenario lightly after the ANVC entered into a tripartite ceasefire with both the Centre and the State.
After the ANVC’s ceasefire in 2004, there was relative peace in Garo Hills for five years, but the year 2009 saw the emergence of GNLA formed jointly by ANVC deserter, Sohan D Shira and police rebel, Champion Sangma.
The home department initially thought that it can easily control GNLA, but complacency led to the spurt in violent activities of GNLA and subsequently by ANVC (B), UALA and many others.
Lack of response from the Chief Minister on the talks offer of GNLA has also resulted in the present volatile situation.
The current impasse which should have been solved by dialogue, indicates that setting up of a special court to try the cases of NGOs fighting for implementation of ILP and deployment of additional forces to tackle militancy have not paid dividends.
