Shillong, Nov. 15: The AICC has asked Meghalaya urban affairs minister Paul Lyngdoh who is camping in Delhi to educate the people of the state on the need of uranium mining in Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh rushed to Delhi on Friday after reports of several Congress legislators demanding his removal from the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) ministry for his change of stand on uranium mining.
While a section of the Congress is demanding his removal, there are others who are putting pressure on the lone KHNAM member to join the Congress.
Lyngdoh, during the August 24 cabinet meeting had supported the move of the cabinet to go ahead with the pre-mining development projects in the uranium mining sites of West Khasi Hills. However, during the KSU-sponsored agitation, Lyngdoh asked the government to go slow on the project and demanded a white paper on the whole aspects related to mining.
When Lyngdoh was the KSU president he had objected to uranium mining tooth and nail. After as many as seven legislators had rushed to Delhi to demand dropping of Lyngdoh from the ministry, Lyngdoh had no alternative but to meet the AICC leaders in Delhi.
The AICC secretary in-charge, Meghalaya, Maj. (retd) Ved Parakash, told The Telegraph that Lyngdoh should make efforts to convince the people of the state the benefits of uranium mining in the state.
“There are a number of countries which mine uranium scientifically and if we can mine uranium in Meghalaya, there will be over all development of West Khasi Hills district,” Prakash said.
According to Prakash, Lyngdoh should educate people that the villagers can avail a lot of development packages once mining is undertaken.
Prakash will arrive in Shillong tomorrow to discuss the political situation and meet party workers.
During his stay in Delhi Lyngdoh met AICC general secretary in-charge, Northeast, L. Faleiro, and senior AICC leader Ahmed Patel.
An AICC source said the leaders got an assurance from Lyngdoh that he would do whatever he can to initiate measures to educate people on the merits of uranium mining.
