SHILLONG, May 2 � The Meghalaya Government today decided to convene an all-party meeting next week to break the deadlock over the enrolment of �dubious� voters in the State with agitating tribal NGOs.
�We have decided to convene a meeting on May 8 with all political parties in the State in view of the suggestions that had come up from them,� Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters here.
He said, �I have reasons to believe that something productive will emerge as we discuss and we will take necessary steps emerged after the meet with all political parties.�
Urging the agitating NGOs to wait for the �outcome of the engagement� with the political parties, Chief Minister said �the government will explore the possibilities to ensure that ideas and suggestions from all concerned could be incorporated in this issue.�
Stating that six persons were detected by the authorities for attaching fake documents to get themselves enrolled in the electoral roll of the State, Mukul maintained that the government �will not allow� anybody to take advantage of the various procedures adopted by the Election Commission of India for facilitating of enrolment of eligible voters.
The fact that the authorities have detected the attempt to cheat implies that there is a system in place, he said.
The Chief Minister warned against those found to have supported their application with fake documents and said FIR will be filed against them and case will be registered which will result in the law enforcing agencies prosecuting them according to the law of the land.
Meanwhile, the three-day night road blockade sponsored by the NGOs in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region has thrown life out of gear in the region.
The night road blockade which begun on Monday from 7 pm will be on till 5 am of Thursday morning. Vehicles are stranded on the National Highway 44 and 40, which is a lifeline for several other North Eastern States including Tripura and Mizoram.
Influential tribal NGOs, including the Khasi Students� Union, have been agitating demanding the removal of a facilitating voters enrolment cell put up at the DCs� and SDOs� office in Khasi Jaintia Hills division which they said �facilitates� enrolment of �dubious voters� rather than getting the genuine voters enrolled.
Opposition NCP has expressed their support to the NGOs and even the other political parties including the coalition partners of the Congress-led government, the UDP and the HSPDP had pressed for an all-party meeting to end the crisis.
Stray incidents of arson and pelting of stones took place at different parts of the four districts of Khasi Jaintia Hills district and security have been put at vulnerable places to prevent any untoward incidents, Director General of Police N Ramachandran said. � PTI
