Shillong, Jan 29: Amidst the rising demand for CBI inquiry on the alleged rampant illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state by several NGOs, Cabinet Minister and UDP legislator Kyrmen Shylla said, they are ready for any type of inquiry to solve the problem whether it is CBI or anyone else.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Kyrmen Shylla, UDP MLA East Jaintia Hills District said, “For us we are ready, especially for me when it comes to East Jaintia Hills, we are ready for any probe, to solve the problem whether it is CBI or anyone else we are ready…… but we need to solve the problem so for we believe whatever the Government does or decide for us is for the people for serving the people.”
It may be mentioned that both the BJP and the Congress has alleged rampant illegal coal mining and transportation in the state and blamed the State Government for allowing it as both the parties have demanded for CBI inquiry to verify the facts.
The BJP is an alliance partner in the NPP led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government in the state.
Hitting back at BJP for seeking the resignation of Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and for targeting the incumbent government over alleged rampant corruption and illegalities, Shylla said that BJP is free to leave the MDA coalition if they are not satisfied with the functioning of the MDA Government.
“We are here to work as a team but they (BJP) themselves if they are not happy working with us, if they feel that what we are doing is all illegal things and if they (BJP) feel that what they do is all legal things, let them leave or tell all of us to leave,” the Minister said.
He further added, “The way they put these allegations it seems they are not happy with us, so maybe according to them whatever we do for our state is all illegal things, so it is up to them let them decide if they feel that this should not be done let them leave the coordination.”
Illegal transportation and mining of coal appear to have driven a wedge between the coalition partners in the Meghalaya government.
Asked about BJP state president Ernest Mawrie’s demand for the home minister to step down, the minister asked, “Step down for what ground? If he says that just because this incident happened that they demand for him to step down if one illegal thing is going on and then asking for the minister to step down … accident can happen any time anywhere if an accident happens on the road that means the transport minister has to step down.”
Stating that the Home Minister has never encouraged illegalities, Shylla said, “Illegal things if they are going on in our state, it does not mean that the ministers are supporting or politicians are supporting. Law is there for everyone.”
He however asserted that 2023 is not far and people will judge the performance of the Government.
