Mukul criticizes MDA govt for providing security to political appointees

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 9, 2024

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has criticized the government’s decision to provide security to its political appointees.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said,“…I will be demanding for a state security commission meeting to take cognizance of this unnecessary wastage of money from public exchequer by misusing the police authorities. You see how many of these political appointees are provided with all kinds of so-called security cars.”

“What is the category of the protectee? Whose life is under threat? Tell me which of these political appointees have taken the insurgency and militancy and other issues head on to bring peace that they are life is so threatened? If somebody’s life is threatened based on which the level of protection to be given by the police for that indicator protectee has to be worked out. Now you will ring up to the SP and tell give security to this particular gentleman? This is how you want to spend money from the scares public exchequer? No,” he said.

“We will have proper due diligence and accounting of everything and if unnecessarily protection has been given by giving police vehicle, by giving police personels to just run around with them to show off, and create that public nuisance, we will demand for refund of every spending that has been done by the officer who have provided that,” he said. He added “The officer concerned will have to refund all this money, we will see to that, I am assuring to the people of the state. Every single paise that they have spent just to please their political bosses going rather by deviation from the normal course of ethical responsibility vested upon them as per the law.” 

“Whoever is eligible, for all those person facilities by virtue of the post and in sync with the given norms, follow it, don’t deviate and misuse your power just to show off,” he stated.

On the political appointment during his tenure as CM, Sangma however said, “Did I allowed them to misuse? How many chief ministers advisors are there? Can you count? How many did I have? How many of the political appointees are escorted by police pilot or police escort and creating nuisance?”

Asked if such political appointees are entitled to such facility, the former CM said, “That’s why I am asking. The category of protectee is determined by virtue of the perception of threat, that’s why I am saying perception of threat. Does this Daniel (OSD) has perception of threat? Yes, the police has to informed. The public has to ask does he have the perception of threat, so also many others.”

“I always say that there is a price to be paid in our even democratic system because our given democratic system revolves around the political system where you have political parties but what I am saying is that, do not, do not misuse it. Do it as it is necessary for the sustainability of democracy but do not do up to that extend that it becomes a nuisance, it becomes an eyesore to the common man, not for me because people are coming and telling, that’s why I know,” he added.