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Mukul alleges of conspiracy to oust him

By Bedabrata Lahkar

SHILLONG, June 15 � Faced with the continuing revolt by a majority of the members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the State, Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has alleged that his campaign to root out corruption and plug leakages in revenue from mineral resources in the State has alarmed certain vested interest groups who are now conspiring to oust him.

Sangma was interacting with a group of journalists led by President of Indian Journalists� Union (IJU) SN Sinha at the former�s residence here yesterday. Sinha was accompanied by senior office-bearers of Journalists� Union of Assam and Journalists� Union of Meghalaya.

The beleaguered Chief Minister said, �The campaign has resulted in a big boost to generation of revenue from the two most important mineral resources of coal and limestone in the State�, adding �This will strengthen the developmental activities in the State.� He said that he has sought support from the party high command in taking forward his campaign.

Smilingly he disclosed, �With my wife in the coal business, I have learnt some of the tricks of the trade which has helped me in plugging the huge revenue leakages.� He informed that the addition in revenue has come about without any increase in the volume of trade. Sangma, however, admitted that restricting the truck load of coal to nine tonnes has also helped in increasing the revenue collection.

The IJU President briefed the Chief Minister about the problems faced by the journalists in the country specially in the State of Meghalaya. He pointed out that the Wage Board Awards have been notified by the Union Government under the Working Journalists� Act and therefore amounted to law. �It is the duty of the government to enforce the law�, he urged upon the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister on his part assured to look into the matter and do everything possible for the benefit of the journalists in the State. �A corpus fund has been created by the State Government to help the journalists in the time of need�, he informed.

Earlier, on Monday evening, Sinha addressed the members of the Shillong Press Club at the Club premises and urged them to unite in order to extract their rights. He also informed them of the problems faced by the journalists in the other parts of the country.

Referring to the recent murder of Mumbai journalist J Dey by the mafia, the IJU President asked the government to provide full protection to the journalists in carrying out their duties.

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