Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong mocked leader of the opposition Mukul Sangma for accusing the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government of failing to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
The deputy chief minister said that in 2013 when Sangma was the chief minister and the pressure groups were demanding the implementation of ILP he was against it.
“I was surprised that the very same person when he was the chief minister of Meghalaya was the one who was deadly against the implementation of ILP. Now he is singing a different tune just because he is now the leader of the opposition,” Tynsong said.
He also said that the leader of opposition needs to be asked what was wrong with him then that he was deadly against implementation of ILP and what has happened now to make him sing a different tune.
“Just because you are now sitting opposite the treasury bench you are saying we need ILP,” the deputy chief minister said.
Tynsong said that the people of Meghalaya should judge and also find out his (Mukul’s) true colour on this particular issue (ILP).
When reminded that he was part of the Cabinet in 2013 when Sangma rejected the demand for ILP, Tynsong said that resigned from the Congress because of him.
“He himself said in the cabinet hundred times, we don’t need ILP confidently. He was a dictator so we can’t say anything,” he said.
Recently, the TMC leader of opposition criticised the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government for not keeping its promise on implementing ILP in the state.
The TMC leader pointed out that the leaders of various civil society organisations in the state had tried to draw the attention of the government from time to time including the attention of the Centre through their representations whenever any of the union ministers visited the state.
In 2013, when the demand for ILP was at its peak, Sangma had said that ILP alone is not an answer to solve the issue, while adding that there is a need for a better and comprehensive mechanism to address the issue.
Expressing his views against ILP, Sangma, who was the then Chief Minister had said people who are determined to enter the state will not come through the gates. He also said that the ILP will discourage investors from visiting the state.
“It will discourage good people and bring bad people,” he had said.