Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday expressed concern over the recent incidents in the state capital including the one in which the residence of a cabinet Minister was attacked.
Talking to reporters, Sangma assured strict action will be taken, whoever is involved in such things be it legislator’s house or common citizens house, it is the duty of the police and the Government to ensure necessary action.
“It is a matter of concern and these kinds of incidents are unfortunate and this shouldn’t have happened and strict action will be taken against those who have done this kind of attacks especially on legislators going into their house throwing stones,” Sangma said.
Stating that it’s not just about the legislators, this kind of incident should not happen to anybody, the Chief Minister said, “Therefore, whoever is involved in this kind of things be it in legislator’s house or common citizen’s house it is the duty of the police and the Administration and the Government to take action.”
He assured strict action will be taken, whoever is involved in such things be it legislator’s house or common citizens house, it is the duty of the police and the Government to ensure necessary action.
“ We ensure that necessary action to be taken and also in the future also we have to do different aspects, we will be going into the different aspects, “He added.
While vendors yesterday opposed the District Administration ‘s decision to clamp Shillong after 10 PM, the question raises how the State can generate a 10 billion dollar economy if shops are closed at 10 PM.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma replied to this saying it’s not that Shops opening after 10 PM will ensure a 10 billion economy.
“Its not that the shops opening at 10 pm will ensure 10 billion economy, it’s not the right way to look at it. So these two actions are not necessarily equally correlated but yes it is a matter of concern and we will look into it. Just by ensuring that the shops are open after 10 will ensure we have 10 billion economy I don’t this is the correct way to look at it,” Sangma said.
“ If by opening shops beyond 10 o’clock if we would have reached 10 billion dollars then I would have allowed the shops to be open till 3 o’clock also,” CM pointed out.
He further stated that there are more details to how a 10 billion dollar economy goes as the Economy depends on Government’s spending, and on investment made by the private sector on different kinds of consumption that takes place.
“ This issue of 10 O’clock is a concern and the administration in its wisdom at that point in time had seen all the situations that had occurred and they decided,” CM said while defending the order of the District Administration.
Asked, Sangma said, “Yes, tourism is affected by incidents like these; such incidents happen across the world, it is not something new – it is part of society. What is important for us is to immediately bring things to calm, not allow the situation to escalate, and ensure that steps are taken to maintain law and order. These measures are all part and parcel of governance and administration.”
Earlier yesterday, Upset with the district administration clamping the entire Shillong city under section 144 CrPC after 10 PM, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said ‘stray incidents are always there not only in Shillong they happen in New York, they happen in Paris that doesn’t mean that you close everything.’