By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chairman Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) RG Lyngdoh has criticized NCP Youth Wing’s observation on the grand finale of the Autumn Festival saying “It is very unfortunate to see the immature reaction of the NCP Youth Wing in the newspapers today.”
He added that not all the people here are salaried wage-earners, who get Saturdays off.
Lyngdoh observed that a large segment of Shillongites are self-employed and therefore, have only the Sunday to spend with their families. The decision of the MTDF to keep the last day of the festival as a “family day” was meant to give them an opportunity to also enjoy the festival. He said the MTDF did not see any wrong in that? “Shillong is a cosmopolitan city that respects all faiths and communities. Even the indigenous people of the State belong to many different faiths. Any attempt to Talibanise a secular festival like the Autumn Festival could have dire consequences in the future,” the MTDF Chairperson said. He urged upon all right thinking people of the State to condemn this attempt to get cheap political mileage or, even worse, to Talibanise the secular nature of the State. “This festival belongs to the people of the State, and is meant to show the rest of the world our cultural wealth, not just in this State, but in the region as a whole,” Lyngdoh reiterated adding that MTDF might have made mistakes in the past but the organisation has consciously corrected them. The MTDF chief who has guided the Forum for several years said ” We respect positive feedback and will endeavour to organise a festival that will make all the people of the State proud.”
