SHILLONG : Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma on Friday blamed the Meghalaya government for the deteriorating law and order situation in Shillong following violence during the KSU black flag bike rally, subsequent petrol bomb attacks and incidents of arson.
Sangma alleged that the government had ignored repeated warnings from civil society organisations, resulting in growing public frustration and anger.
“This is a complete failure of the government. If permission was issued for a rally, was it not necessary to give advisory to the public? The government has all the machinery to get inputs and put preventive measures in place,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition cautioned against giving the incidents a communal or inter-state colour, stressing that the situation should not be portrayed as a conflict between the people of Meghalaya and Assam.
“It is not a conflict between the people of Meghalaya and Assam. It is an unpleasant incident due to the failure of the Meghalaya government,” Sangma said.
Referring to narratives circulating on social media, he said misinformation could spread rapidly and called upon the government to respond effectively to prevent misinterpretation of the situation.
“We are in an era of social media where news spreads like wildfire. The government must deal with such incidents effectively to prevent misinterpretation,” he said.
Sangma also criticised what he described as the government’s insensitive response, saying that merely stating that “law will take its own course” was not sufficient.
On vehicles stranded along the Assam-Meghalaya border, he expressed concern over the situation and its potential impact on Meghalaya’s image.
“They don’t know what they are doing. The perception being generated is dangerous and damages the brand and reputation of Meghalaya,” he said.
The former chief minister also flagged what he described as intelligence failure and a lack of anticipation on the part of the authorities.
“There is no space for complacency. I have said this in the House. People in government have misplaced priorities, which is dangerous in a democracy,” Sangma said.
He urged all sections of society not to view the August 19 incidents as a conflict between communities and called for the situation to be handled responsibly.