State failed to get addl forces to GH: BJP

SHILLONG, FEB 9: Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged that additional forces could not be deployed in Garo hills because of the failure of the Congress led state government to fulfill its financial responsibility of sharing 10 percent of the financial expenses required for getting additional para-military forces.

BJP said the state government failed to chip-in with the 10 percent share required as financial expenses for the deployment of the para-military forces in the state.

Earlier last month, chief minister Mukul Sangma had sought for more additional para-military forces from the centre to assist the state in tackling militancy and insurgency related problems in the state including Garo Hills.

“We were told that the state government had never paid a single paise for deployment of para-military forces in the state,” BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.

He informed that this was revealed to him during the recent meeting held between the party’s delegations with the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju held in New Delhi last month.

According to him, usually the centre has to bear 90 percent while the state which is seeking for deployment of such forces has to shell out 10 per cent.

“The union minister informed  that this was the main reason why the centre has delayed sending the para-military forces to Meghalaya,” Lyngdoh said adding “We have also requested the centre to do something about it to ensure that the forces are deployed at the earliest so that people in Garo Hills can live a safe, secure and peaceful life.”

Adding to this, the party’s national council member, Edmund K Sangma further alleged that the state government had even failed to clear pending dues for the para-military forces which were earlier deployed to the state.

“The centre had also made it clear that until and unless such pending dues are clear by the state government, it will not be in a position to send forces to the state,” Sangma said.

Stating that the ball now is in the court of the state government, he however said, “If they (state) want additional forces, they have to clear the pending dues, as it is mandatory as per financial procedure for the state to bear some percentage of the expenses.”-By Our Reporter