Shillong, Feb 16: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday said the government will examine the allegations made by Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma that money made from illegal coal trade is being used to float new militant outfits in the state.
Rymbui said Mukul’s statement cannot be taken as mere allegations being the leader of opposition, and that the government wants to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevails in the state.
“The government will analyze whatever statement he (Mukul) made and see what is there…because our mandate is to see that peace and tranquillity prevails in the state of Meghalaya where no militant outfit could raise their ugly heads again,” he said.
On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma had alleged that group of people are trying to float new militant outfits from the money they are making from illegal coal trade and that there are movements already taking place. He said such people are going to buy sophisticated arms with the easy money they are getting and create the same kind of problems through which the state has gone through.
When asked, Rymbui said he cannot say whether suo motu investigation will be taken up on the matter. “But we have our own agency to see and analyze and see what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false so until and unless I get the concrete report I cannot comment on that. Having said that to the best of our knowledge there is nothing like that,” he said.
Stating that the government is not trying to hide anything, the home minister said, “We are here to govern the state to the best of our abilities. The government never brushes any issue under the carpet. Whatever statement we made we analyze if it is true we will take action and if it is false we leave it like that.”
On the recent arrest of a coal trader from Assam along with four others for tax evasion and which is linked to the alleged coal trade in the state, Rymbui said that he cannot comment on a case registered in Assam.
He, however, assured full cooperation to the Assam counterpart if they need any cooperation on the case.
