Shillong, Sep 15: Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma on Friday criticised the MDA-II government for using Unlawful Activities Prevention Act ( UAPA) against the protesters in Tura.
Violence erupted in Tura on July 24 when Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was holding a meeting with the pressure groups on winter capital and reservation roster.
As many as 52 persons were arrested in connection with the cases registered under UAPA and other sections of law including Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act.
Speaking to reporters after the first day of the Autumn session of the Assembly, Mukul wanted to know whether these arrested people were terrorists.
“There are arrested youths whose age is between 19 to 20 and what would be their future and career by putting them under UAPA. It is a crime and the government is behaving like the main perpetrator of the crime and this does not augur well with the government”, he said, while condemning the home department.
He said the matter will be raised in the Assembly but the reply of the government will be that it is sub-judice.
“I condemn the stand of the government. Are these boys terrorists, the list is notified by the ministry of home affairs and not by the state government. It never happened in Meghalaya,the government should rectify this”, he added.
