Bernard alleges CM’s nexus with Muslim leaders, party denies charge
Bail to Esmatur Mominin & Sofior Rahman
Shillong, May 19: BJP leader Bernard Marak reiterated the question on whether Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has any links with Muslim leaders Esmatur Mominin and Sofior Rahman as they were released on bail whereas many arrested Garo leaders during the recent unrest are languishing in jail
“Is it possible that Mominin and Rahman have less number of cases than the Garo leaders because Mominin contacted CM before coming to Tura? The detention of Garo leaders alongside the release of Muslim leaders raises concerns about impartiality by the state government in framing charges even after vandalising statue of Jesus”, Marak said in a statement.
Is the state government favouring Muslim leaders like Mominin and Rahman while unfairly targeting Garo leaders who were defending tribal rights? The Muslim leaders have allegedly incited communal tensions through social media with the help of outsiders. Mominin also claimed that he talked to CM before coming to Tura, and Rahman is in NPP. Is there a nexus?
The arrested Garo leaders, however, were standing up for constitutional rights of the Tribals. If Mominin and Rahman are not charged, the same leniency should apply to the Garo leaders. The police must not be swayed by personal biases or external pressures. Equal treatment under the law is paramount, necessitating the release of the Garo leaders on bail, Marak added.
However, the National People’s Party (NPP) denied any preferential treatment for Mominin and Rahman.
According to NPP Garo Hills region spokesperson Aldo A Sangma, bail is a legal provision and does not equate to an acquittal and that the judicial decisions are independent and cannot be influenced by the party or the government.
“In a democracy, courts decide matters based on legal principles and facts, and the executive has no role in determining judicial outcomes. The political leaders should exercise restraint when commenting on sensitive legal matters to avoid misleading the public and to uphold confidence in democratic institutions. The party is committed to peace, communal harmony, and inclusive development across Meghalaya”, Sangma said.
