The opposition took aim at the state government today over the withdrawal of general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Meghalaya is one of nine states to have withdrawn general consent.
This means that the CBI cannot launch an investigation in the state without the government’s permission. Such permission can often take weeks if not months to receive, thereby possibly hamstringing justice. The Chief Minister had earlier played down the matter, saying that the general consent had been withdrawn some time ago and was not unusual.
Today in the Assembly, Umroi MLA George Lyngdoh said, “Who is the state government trying to protect? Does the state government fear that the CBI will uncover something?”
Lyngdoh also condemned the government for supposedly turning a blind eye to illegal coal mining, the breakdown in law and order and return of militancy, high cost of education and high dropout rates, extortion from farmers at toll gates set up throughout the state and thousands of vacancies in government posts.
