Congress politics on NGT ruling

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, April 25: The Congress has blamed the BJP-led government at the Centre for “remaining silent” on the order of the tiol Green Tribul (NGT) to ban the unscientific coal mining in Meghalaya.

This is apparent from the statement AICC general secretary in charge of Meghalaya V rayasamy made to the party workers in West Khasi Hills district. As quoted by the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) DD Lapang, “While there cannot be any interference in the court orders, it is pertaining to observe that the Union government has been silent on the issue”.

“MP Vincent H Pala wrote a letter to the BJP government led by rendra Modi, that as per the 6th Schedule, Meghalaya should not be under the jurisdiction of banning of coal mining because it has its own by-laws for protection of traditiol rights, but the BJP Government kept mum and did not take any step on this matter,” stated Lapang in his reference to the AICC general secretary’s comments in the meeting.

rayasamy is quoted as saying that the Congress party cannot be blamed for any implications caused by the NGT ruling.

Even as the NGT ruling to ban the unscientific extraction of coal came out as a big reprieve for environmentalists and the larger section of the population, the Congress’s latest political play  reinvigorate the suspicion on certain Congress functiories who are fighting to revoke the ban.

Pala is a known advocator of the legal protest and four associate members of the Congress party officially joined the bandwagon by meeting the BJP president Amit Shah to grieve about the NGT ruling.

Interestingly, all of them - elected representatives - have an interest in the coal business that has taken a beating since the NGT ruling. Except for Vincent Pala, the four met Amit Shah as members of the State Coordition Committee on Coal Mining and Dealers Forum.

The Congress party has not taken any cognizance to the steps taken by the likes of Pala and other members. Perhaps, rayasamy is not in the loop.