Shillong (Meghalaya),Feb 5 : Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has defended Home Minister, James Sangma by saying that the department is doing a ‘good job’ under him.
It may be mentioned that the alliance partners of the National People’s Party (NPP) in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) have demanded that James is stripped of the Home portfolio while opining that he is unable to stop illegal transportation of coal and also maintain law and order.
The Chief Minister said that there can be a number of ‘opinions’ about the Home Minister, but according to him the department has being doing a ‘good job’.
Conrad pointed out that during different phases of agitation the Home department has acted astutely and brought things under control.
“Not a single life was lost,” the Chief Minister said .
Defending his Home Minister, he said, “The Home department gets the flak for everything but it is doing a wonderful job.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also rubbished reports of illegal transportation of coal.
“There is no truth in such reports and there is no question of illegal transportation of coal going on,” Conrad said.
He said that if any coal is being transported it is being done legally even as he added that the law of the land is being strictly applied in terms of transportation of coal.
The United Democratic Party (UDP), the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and lone Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator, Adelbert Nongrum who are partners in the MDA government have expressed their displeasure over the illegal transportation of coal right under the nose of the Home department.
Moreover, four cabinet ministers skipped the ‘Cabinet on the move’ that was held at Jowai today. These are Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek, Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling, Sports and Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and PHE Minister Samlin Malngiang.
However Conrad said that those who skipped the Cabinet meeting had prior engagements and ‘personal reasons’ which were communicated to him.
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