HNLC seeks support to bandh
SHILLONG: President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive here on Monday on a two-day visit to the state amid tight security.
This will be Mukherjee’s maiden visit to Meghalaya after becoming the First Citizen of the country.
Security has been beefed up in the city in view of the two-day visit of the President, even as the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has announced a 36-hour bandh to protest the visit.
Chief Secretary WMS Pariat on Friday reviewed the security preparedness of the state agencies to deal with the visit of the VVIP even as DGP held a separate top review meeting, official sources said.
The State Government has claimed that it is ready to tackle any eventuality since the security forces, especially the CRPF, deployed during the Durga puja celebrations will continue to help the State police in handling the present law and order situation of the city.
It is learnt that the security personnel are deployed to scan various buildings which are located near the venues where the President is scheduled to visit.
HNLC plea: Meanwhile, HNLC has urged people to extend support the 36-hour bandh called by it to protest Mukherjee’s visit.
In a release issued here on Saturday, HNLC publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw said the decision to boycott the President’s visit was taken in order to confront the lackadaisical attitude of the Indian Government to hold peace talks with the HNLC to resolve the ‘Hynniewtrep national question’.
He further blamed Congress leaders for the current state of affairs in Meghalaya stating that the situation today is the result of the egoistic attitude of the Congress leaders.
The Council had stood on the principle of preserving the people of Hynniewtrep and its land from the clutches of the government of India, Nongtraw said.
The banned outfit has also raised a clarion call to all the NGO leaders and its members to join the council and fight for the welfare of the Hynniewtrep through armed struggle.
“The status of the NGOs and the council is all the same now and we should stand together united and fight for our Nation’s cause,” he said adding “The Council doors are always open provided that our ‘Jaidbynriew’ becomes our primary concern”.
“The Council is not against the student community but in fact the State government is using them as scapegoat to counter the diktats of the council,” Nongtraw stated.
Further, the HNLC has warned the non-indigenous people including government servants, businessmen to adhere to the boycott call of the council or face the consequences.
Referring to ICARE’s view, Nongtraw said the council was neither against the interest of labourers nor the daily wage earners.
He asked the ICARE leaders to raise their voices against the corrupt government officials who are swindling poor people’s money.
“Do not apply double standards, but come forward and lend a hand to save the Hynniewtrep from extinction,” the HNLC publicity secretary said.