Shillong, May 17: BJP leader Bernard N. Marak has questioned the Meghalaya government over the alleged differential treatment of certain leaders in connection with recent tensions in Tura, raising concerns over impartiality in police action and investigation.
In a statement issued, Marak questioned whether there was a “nexus” between Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and certain individuals, alleging that Muslim leaders including Mominin and Rehman were not charge-sheeted while several Garo leaders were arrested.
Marak alleged that Mominin had claimed to have spoken with the Chief Minister before arriving in Tura and further pointed out that Rehman is associated with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
He claimed that the detention of Garo leaders alongside the alleged release of Muslim leaders had raised concerns regarding fairness and equal treatment under the law.
According to Marak, the arrested Garo leaders were “standing up for constitutional rights of the tribals” and argued that if Mominin and Rehman were not being charged, similar leniency should also be extended to the Garo leaders.
The BJP leader further alleged that certain Muslim leaders had incited communal tensions through social media with support from outsiders, while also calling for equal legal scrutiny of some MDCs who allegedly showed solidarity with the arrested leaders after joining the NPP Executive Committee.
Marak urged the police not to be influenced by personal bias or external pressure and demanded that the Home Department conduct an investigation into what he described as “differential treatment” to restore public confidence in the justice system.
He also called for the arrested Garo leaders to be granted bail, stressing that equal treatment under the law is essential.
