SHILLONG:
Opposition AITC leader Mukul Sangma, on December 1, blamed the state government for the Mukroh firing by Assam Police personnel in which six persons were killed on November 22.
Five of the six killed were residents of Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills district.
He was replying to a question on what the government could have done to avoid the incident from a participant at an event titled, Town Hall – In Conversation with Women, organised by the party to connect with women party honouring the state’s matrilineal heritage.
“The brutal killings could have been avoided because the brutalities were not a result of community clash, but an act perpetrated by the government authorities. There should have been pre-emptive measures, which were missing; the dialogue between the two governments was missing.”
He also said the internet shutdown following violent incidents in the city in the wake of the Mukroh killings reflected “a bankruptcy of ideas.”
“The government gave a knee-jerk reaction by shutting down the internet. During my tenure, not even on a single occasion did we shut down the internet in the name of restoring order, peace, and law. This is a reflection of a bankruptcy of ideas,” he said.
Another woman brought up the issue of women’s inclusion in Meghalaya’s politics.
“The involvement of women in the process of democracy is extremely crucial,” he said that AITC supremo Mamata Banerjee has fared way better than men even in electoral battles. She has proven that women can defeat formidable opponents,” he said adding that his mother too, aspired to be a politician but she couldn’t due to the circumstances, but passed on her dreams to her children.
On ‘infrastructural collapse’ the former chief minister compared the MDA government with his tenure. “The education department had a budget that only accommodated salaries and no infrastructural support. We ensured government college in every district. In Mawphlang, we established a college of science and commerce. In Garo hills, we have colleges for engineering and architecture funded by the GoI,” he said.
He recalled his government was grappling with shortage of funds, but reached out to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, JICA, and other funding agencies. “We embarked upon a new programme by Asian Development Bank called Human Capital Development Programme. It was inclusive of smart classrooms and furniture in the era of technology. We started a teachers’ training programme with the funds,” he said.
To a question on traffic problem in Shillong, Sangma said, “To ease traffic congestion and to promote tourism during my tenure, I initiated four-lane construction on Jorabat-Shillong route. Eastern Bypass alone is not sufficient. Unfortunately, the government of the day wasted five years by not paying attention to important routes such as Western Bypass.” He added, “In 2012, we released a beautiful public transport system. I embarked upon the public bus along with my colleagues to inaugurate it. The reality of traffic snarls needs to be understood first for a sustainable resolution,” he said.
During the event, Meghalaya TMC leader James Lyngdoh and North Shillong Block President from Meghalaya TMC, Elgiva Gwyneth Rynjah were also present.