Shillong, Jan 28: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has reiterated that the MDA government is totally against illegal mining of coal and its transportation.

“Let me assure the entire state that the MDA is against any illegal activity. The standing order is also in place where the respective district commissioners and superintendents of police have been asked to make sure that all illegal activities must stop,” Tynsong told reporters on Wednesday.

Stating that FIR has already been filed with regards to the coal mining accident which killed 6 coal labourers in East Jaintia Hills district on January 22, Tynsong said, “The law will take its course of action.”

He also informed that some arrests have been made and the home department has been entrusted to conduct an inquiry into the incident, which is the second after the Ksan mining incident which killed 15 coal labourers in 2018.

Reacting to the BJP’s demand for the immediate resignation of the home minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Tynsong however said, “Why should the home minister step down, for what? Is it Rymbui who is responsible for any illegal activities in the state?”

Asked, Tynsong denied that there is any rift within the MDA government. He also refused to comment on whether the BJP’s continued attack on the MDA is going against the resolution adopted in the meeting of the alliance coordination committee held last year.

The deputy chief minister however informed that the MDA coordination committee would meet very soon to discuss various issues including the allegations made by the BJP.