Chief Minister and president of the National People’s Party (NPP) made an explosive allegation, even if he couched it in vague terms, that the outlawed HNLC militant group could be working at the behest of the NPP’s political rivals inasmuch as its threat to attack party workers is concerned.
Yesterday, the HNLC took responsibility for planting a dud IED outside the Shillong office of the NPP. In a press release, the rebel outfit also threatened physical violence against NPP members unless they quit the party.
The timing of the incident could hardly have been worse as it came on the day that the Vice-President of India was visiting the city. Additionally, the location, in Lachumiere, is practically at the heart of the state’s administration, with government offices, Raj Bhavan, police headquarters and courts not far away.
The embarrassing lapse in security and failure of the police and their political masters was not something that Sangma focused on today, instead preferring to hint at a nexus between the militants and political rivals.
“The statement seems to have been made right before the joining of Lamphrang Blah (a sitting MDC and the NPP candidate for the Mawphlang by-election) joined (from the Congress) and the statement is close to the by-elections,” the CM said. “Therefore, one cannot completely eliminate the political angle and this will also be examined.”
On the security angle, the Chief Minister met with senior police officers last night to review the situation.
The police will re-examine the security cover given to ministers in the wake of the HNLC’s threats.
Meanwhile, speaking during the induction programme of Blah into the NPP, Sangma said that the threats made against NPP members will not be tolerated.
“I want to tell the people of the NPP and all our supporters to be strong. We are here to fight for our people and we are here to take our state forwards. We should not be cowed down by simple challenges thrown at us,” he stated, adding that such threats were only made because the NPP’s opponents can see that the party is growing from strength to strength.
