Meghalaya: Ampareen urges VPP to not protest, meet CM instead

MDA spokesperson and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has asked the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) to refrain from staging a protest and meet Chief Minister Conrad Sangma instead for further clarification on issues related to the Lokayukta.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Lyngdoh said, “We are guided by the Lokayukta Act. We understand that there was a deviation from the prerequisite of the act because of some necessities. We request the VPP to adopt a more suitable way forward to discuss issues that need to clarified. My offer at this point of time is that VPP can seek appointment with the Chief Minister if any further clarification needs to be given to them.”

The opposition party, has decided to stage a sit-in-protest infront of the Secretariat from today during office hours to pressurize the state government to reinstate the removed officials of the Lokayukta.
In a statement, VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh on Wednesday said, “In view of the failure of the Conrad K Sangma-led MDA-II government to respond to the call of the party to re-instate the officials of the office of the Lokayukta, the VPP will organise a sit-in-demonstration in front of the Meghalaya Secretariat beginning on Friday, the January 19, during office hours, i.e., from 10 A.M to 4 P.M. The demonstration would resume on Monday (January 22), if the government fails to give in.”

The Meghalaya government on December 30 last year dismissed three Lokayukta officials through a Whatsapp message. The sacked officials are Director of Inquiry and Prosecution J Rymmai, who is a former IPS officer and Enquiry-cum-Investigating Officers R Pde and Anil K Sangma. The government said that the officials were removed because they had retired and the terminations adhered to the provisions of Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.

Also Read: Meghalaya: VPP to protest tomorrow against govt’s failure to reinstate Lokayukta officials

Also Watch: