Four-member team of MPs, MLAs meets residents
SHILLONG: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Harijan Colony issue in the state.
This was informed by Punjab MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa, who is part of the four-member delegation deputed by the Punjab chief minister to visit Shillong.
The delegation of the Punjab government led by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, which arrived in the city on Wednesday, has asserted that they want a peaceful solution to the issue of relocation of the settlers in Harijan Colony which should be agreeable to all the parties.
The four-member committee met the Colony residents and interacted with them.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Dimpa said they are in Shillong to arrive at a solution to the problem of the settlers of the colony.
Informing that Punjab chief minister has already had discussions with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Dimpa added that the former has also taken up the matter with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stating that the Punjab chief minister is concerned over the issue, the MP reiterated that they want a peaceful solution to the entire matter.
“Our request to our Meghalaya brothers is that they have been serving and contributing in building this great state of Meghalaya for a long time and we just pray to God that we would be able to find a good solution to the problem,” the MP said.
When asked about Meghalaya government’s plans to relocate the settlers of the colony, he said the state government should give a plan to the settlers about their relocation and where they would be relocated.
“They (government) should take them into confidence and receive them with open arms and mere saying but not offering will not solve this puzzle,” the MP said.
He said they visited the state as whenever there are troubles in India, there are always some rippling effects in Punjab since Punjab is a border state and agencies like ISI often ferments trouble there.
The Punjab MP further said the Harijan Colony residents should stay peacefully and as guardians, the people of Meghalaya can take care of them.
“There is freedom of religion and freedom to work and these aspects should be safeguarded”, he said.
To a question on relocation, the chairman of the committee, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the matter will be discussed with the government and since it is lying with the court its verdict is awaited.
The committee is scheduled to meet Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and Home Minister James Sangma on Thursday morning.
Answering a query on Harijan Colony becoming a slum, Randhawa said, “There is nothing officially on the paper in this regard.
He said the delegation wanted an amicable solution to the current issue.