Shillong, August 5: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday reiterated that the state government remains open to discussions on all matters of public importance, even as the Voice of the People Party (VPP) prepares to hold a march to the Meghalaya Secretariat on Thursday.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma says the government remains open to dialogue on all public issues, urging that concerns be raised through democratic processes as the State prepares for the proposed VPP march to the Secretariat. (File Photo) |
Reacting to the proposed protest, the Chief Minister said the government has never closed its doors to dialogue and remains committed to resolving issues through democratic means.
"The government has always been open to discussion. If there are any issues, we are always ready to discuss them," Sangma said while speaking to reporters.
The VPP has announced the march to press the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on a range of public issues, including unemployment, rising prices and governance-related concerns.
Sangma, however, stressed that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly remains the most appropriate platform for raising such matters. He pointed out that the Assembly session is scheduled to begin soon, providing an opportunity for elected representatives to debate issues affecting the people.
"The democratic process is always followed, and these discussions are held in the Assembly. The session is coming very soon, and that is the correct and right platform to take up such concerns," he said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister maintained that the government is willing to engage in discussions outside the Assembly as well, emphasising that no door has ever been closed to dialogue on matters of public interest.
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"As a government, we have never closed our doors to any kind of discussion. If there is any discussion, we are always open to discussing any matter of public importance," he added.
Earlier in the day, Sangma chaired a high-level meeting to review the proposed VPP march to the Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang, Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang, and other senior government officials.
The review focused on preparedness and coordination ahead of the proposed march, while the government reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace, ensuring public safety and facilitating democratic expression within the framework of the law.
