Shillong: The Leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma has questioned the stand of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on their dealings with banned insurgent outfits in the state.
According to Dr Sangma, during his tenure, a multi-prompt approach was adopted to deal with the militancy in the state.
“When we handed over the state on March 6, 2018, the state was very peaceful. What we inherited in 2010 was different, there were kidnappings and killings…we worked hard with the people of the state and also with those people who volunteered to restore peace. The strategy we adopted was already there. They should only follow the same,” expressed Dr Sangma.
He advised the ruling government to avoid beating around the bush and to be clear with their statement.
Also Read: Meghalaya: Opposition wants resident safety act, ILP at the earliest
Recalling his time as the Chief Minister of the state, Dr Sangma said that they have always said that everyone should be willing to withdraw themselves from the organisation and assimilate themselves in the national mainstream that was our stand.
According to Dr Sangma, “When there is lack of hope, you cannot rule out the youths becoming a victim of all those forces. Be it small mushrooming outfits or an existing organised militant terrorist outfit. You have seen it in the past, we have gone through this, and during our time, we ensured over and above putting pressure on different, well-established terror organisations. Numerous outfits were mushrooming. Why do these things happen? Is it because when the youth are frustrated and seeing no reason to have hope, no silver lining to generate that kind of hopes. They become vulnerable. Angry and frustrated youths are potential members targeted by these well-organised outfits.”
He added that the recent surrender of ULFA commander-in-chief Drishti Rajkhowa revealed that Meghalaya, particularly the western Meghalaya, has been used as a corridor by various well-established insurgent outfits, and eastern Meghalaya, including Shillong, has been used as a haven.
Also Read: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma tests positive for COVID-19