NGOs are free to protest but within boundaries of the law: Paul Lyngdoh

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 24, 2024

Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday said NGOs are free to demonstrate their protests as long as they do not cross the boundaries of the law.

“We have no issues. I have no problems with NGOs doing what they have to do as long as they do not cross the barriers and the boundaries of the law,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

His statement came in the wake of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC)’s decision to hold a protest march to the main secretariat on November 8, against the state government’s failure to implement it’s seven-point charter of demands to tackle the growing drug menace in the state.

“But again I reiterate that NGOs are free to demonstrate their protests or dissatisfaction but they need not cross the frontiers of the rule of law,” Lyngdoh added.

Referring to Shillong being adjudged the most preferred tourist destination in the country, the tourism minister said, “We have reached that position, it is a huge honor for the state of Meghalaya for Shillong to be a preferred destination and by 2025, there is going to be indication are that there will be close to 70 percent increase in the footfall of tourists visiting Meghalaya. Who are these people coming for, for whose interest? So a lot of that is important and let’s not be guided by emotions and sheer hate against the system.”

Asserting the need to revamp the state police in order to effectively arm them with more powers, Lyngdoh said, “One of them is the ANTF, which I have a few ideas to share with the deputy chief minister incharge home (police).”

He mentioned that the other important aspect of this debate is that drug trafficking and narcotics is a very sensitive subject and it is difficult for me as minister incharge to share all details with the public.

“There is the operation of a large number of sharks, who are professionals in the drug trafficking business. We have that leads us to their hideouts; we need to nip things in the bud starting from where the supply chain started. All these are highly sensitive information. Whatever we do I can’t go to the rooftop of the secretariat and tell people that this is what is happening and this is our plans,” the minister said while adding “Therefore, to a casual observer, it might seems that we are not doing enough but I tell you results are showing and we should be in a position to deal with this menace more effectively than we have ever done in the past.”