Shillong, Feb 21: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has said that no matter what if any immoral and illegal action is repeated continuously, people will eventually accept it as normal.
VPP president Ardent M Basaiawmoit said that this is exactly what this present government is doing, “tell the people of the state that there is no illegal extraction of coal, repeatedly and continuously, they will accept it as the truth.â€
Basaiawmoit said that the worst part is that even death failed to prick their conscience.
“As the citizens of the state we have seen through, various media reports about the deaths of many workers inside the coal mines in different parts of the State. However, the State government continue to deny that there is any kind of illegal extraction of coal,†the VPP president said.
According to the VPP the state government also claimed that there is no illegal transportation of coal in the state, whereas people witness the plying of coal laden trucks on the road everywhere, both day and night since the ban came into effect.
The party also said that some people have become millionaires, and that includes some of those who are at the helm of affairs in the state today, from this illegal activity.
Basaiawmoit said that since the state is due for the general elections next year, the leaders of the present government knows well that this will become a very prominent issue during election time and therefore they are now trying to find ways and means to undo it by way of legalizing the transportation of coal, extracted illegally.
He said that is why the state government is now coming up with a notification to allow the transportation of coal, from different states and even outside the country to Bangladesh via Meghalaya.
“This is nothing but to conceal illegal coal mining in the state which has been there since the banning of rat hole mining,†the VPP president said.
He pointed out that due to illegal transportation of coal in the state, roads and many bridges are in a very bad shape, which poses a serious risk to commuters and travellers.
Basaiawmoit also said that this present dispensation feels that all the people in the state are fools and that they can be easily hoodwinked by them.
“However, this is a reminder to all those who think they can commit any crime, and nothing can happen will one day have to face the law, and stand trial before the justice system,†he added.