With the BJP seeking the resignation of Meghalaya Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator, Lahkmen Rymbui in the wake of the death of six labourers in an illegal coal mine in the East Jaintia Hills, the former has retorted back, asking his coalition partner to seek the resignation of Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyuraapa instead, in whose home constituency five persons died in an explosion in a quarry.
“The BJP leaders from Meghalaya should first ask for the resignation of the Karnataka Chief Minister after five people have died on January 21, 2021 in the explosion at a quarry in Hunasodu village of Shivamogga which is his home constituency. The BJP being a national party should first introspect,” Rymbui said on Thursday. The BJP, which is a partner in the National People’s Party (NPP)-led ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), of which the UDP is the second largest constituent, has been demanding for the resignation of Rymbui ever since the tragedy in the illegal coal mine came to light.
Meghalaya BJP unit president Ernest Mawrie has called for the resignation of Rymbui for failing to curb illegal coal mining in the state, and sought an independent inquiry into the deaths of six labourers in a coal pit in the Rymbai Elaka of East Jaintia Hills on January 21. “I am from the War region of Meghalaya, and we do not shy away from challenges, responsibilities. Even if anything has happened, it is our duty to see how to overcome all the challenges,” the Home Minister, who represents the Amlarem constituency of West Jaintia Hills, which is in the War region of Meghalaya asserted.
Rymbui’s cabinet colleague and BJP, legislator, A. L. Hek, who is the State health and family welfare minister also supported his party president’s demand.
However, another BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai said that the demand for Rymbui’s resignation is not of the BJP of Meghalaya but of only a few.
Rymbui, however, said that two years ago, a committee to oversee if there is any illegal mining was formed at the district level. “So as a government it is time to see how this committee is working. Whether they are working or not and if not they have to work aggressively. They have to raid all those places where there is illegal mining. Periodic raids if at all they get information should be done to curb these types of things,” Rymbui added.
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong maintained that illegal mining activities cannot be stopped in totality and stray incidents such as the accidental death of six coal miners in East Jaintia Hills coal pit “does not mean the MDA government has failed” to curb illegal coal mining and transportation.
“Smuggling takes place despite the Border Security Force working hard on the Bangladesh border. That does not mean the BSF has failed,” he said.
“We are committed to checking illegal activities but we cannot stop them in totality as the police too are humans. I appeal to everyone to inform us whenever they come across illegal activities and we won’t disclose their names,” Tynsong said, adding that the state government has issued a notification to protect the identities of such whistle-blowers.