The alleged coal scandal said to involve none other than cabinet minister James PK Sangma is just one of many scams that are bleeding the state dry, Shillong MP and state Congress leader Vincent Pala has said.
Recently, an Assam-based news channel reported that a businessman with close ties to Sangma had been involved in a scam to transport Meghalaya coal to Bangladesh while claiming that the consignments had originated in Assam. Sangma has denied having any hand in the illegality.
Stating that hundreds of coal trucks are also going to Silchar, Guwahati, etc and illegalities are going on openly, Pala said that manipulation is happening not only with coal but also limestone, timber and many other products.
“Even the teer (gambling on archery) business has now been manipulated including the various contract works and everybody knows about it,” the MP told a few reporters yesterday.
When asked if he will intervene, Pala said, “We have a very strong team who will be filing an RTI and gather all the shreds of evidence on all the illegalities happening and when everything is ready all these issues will not only be spoken of in the press and social media but it will be taken to the street and vehemently protested against.”
When asked about the state government’s constant denial of all illegalities, Pala said that this is natural as no one who is guilty will admit involvement.
On the collapse of the dome of the under-construction new Assembly building, he said this is also a clear indication that corruption has reached its peak not only on the road and in various departments but even in the Assembly.
Pala also said that the United Democratic Party cannot claim innocence because it is the Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh of the UDP, who finalised the project. “How many coffins would have come out of the incident if this took place when people were working on the project or if the Assembly session had been going on?” he questioned.
The collapse of the dome took place after midnight on May 22.
Pala added that the dome collapse is a great disgrace to the state but he has little confidence in any inquiry as previous inquiries into the rice scam, encounter with ex-militant Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, smart meters, etc have not yielded satisfactory results.
“These people do whatever they want and keep their own people in charge of inquiries that can be manipulated or which will never see the light of the day. If they are serious then sitting judges should lead the inquiries or the ex-Chief Justice of the High Court,” he added.
