Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Cong-sponsored no-trust motion defeated in Meghalaya Assembly

By STAFF Correspondent

SHILLONG, Nov 11 - The No-Confidence Motion moved by the Opposition Congress against the NPP-led Government in the Meghalaya Assembly today was defeated by a voice vote. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma lambasted the Congress for its past performances. The no-trust motion was moved by Opposition leader Mukul Sangma along with ten other legislators. The Opposition Congress MLAs said they have lost confidence in the NPP-led Government.

The Opposition pointed to the �deteriorating law-and-order situation� and the alleged illegal transportation of coal in the State. The debate on the motion went on till late this evening. However, a combative Chief Minister pulled out figures and said that the past performance of the Congress Government was far more worse. Sangma said from 2015 to 2017 when the Congress Government was in power, 66 militants and 36 civilians were killed. During the same period, nine policemen died while performing their duties.

But in the period between 2018 and 2020, three militants and four civilians were killed in 2018, which indicates that the law-and-order situation has improved significantly in the State.

The Chief Minister furnished further details which showed that crimes against women and children have also come down during the past two-and-a-half years of the present Government.

�Clearly the situation has improved. The Opposition is misleading,� Sangma said.

On allegations of communal riots having increased in the State during the NPP-led Government rule, Sangma said that petrol bombs were hurled on puja pandals in Ri-Bhoi and Umsning in 2013.

He said similar attacks were reported in Laban, Nongymnsong and other parts of the State capital in 2017. In June of the same year, shops were burnt.

On illegal coal transportation, the Chief Minister said that the audit report from 2013-14 to 2017-18 (during the Congress Government) has pointed out that �illegal coal to the tune of 27.8 lakh metric tonnes was transported, causing a loss of Rs 180 crore to the State revenue�.

Sangma also flayed the erstwhile Congress Government for sitting on the National Green Tribunal ban on coal mining from 2014. After coming to power, the NPP government in 2018 challenged the ban in the Supreme Court and got it lifted with preconditions, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the present Government has been seizing illegal coal, which is being auctioned, bringing in greater revenue for the Government.

Sangma also gave details of the development works undertaken by the present Government in the past two-and-a-half years in comparison to those undertaken by the previous Congress Government and added that the NPP-led Government believes in �not just speech and lecture, but actual action and work.�

Next Story