SHILLONG: Agitating NGOs of the State have called for a fresh three-day night road blockade from Monday (7 pm to 5 am the next day) after talks between the State Government and the NGOs failed to break the ongoing deadlock.
The four NGOs (KSU, FKJGP, SSSS and HNYF), who are protesting the alleged enrollment of doubtful voters in the State, met Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, Election Minister JA Lyngdoh and other Government officials here on Thursday but the meeting ended inconclusively.
Throughout the course of the meeting, the NGOs remained firm on their demand that the voter’s facilitation centre opened at the Deputy Commissioner’s office must be closed down immediately and fresh enrolment should be conducted.
“We have asked the government to put on hold the enrollment drive through the special cells at the offices of the DC and the subdivisions,” KSU chief Daniel Khyriem said, later.
FKJGP working president Joe Marwein wanted the Election Commission of India to exempt Meghalaya from the provision of setting up of the special counters for voters’ enrolment process.
Home minister HDR Lyngdoh was adamant that the State Government had no intervening power with regards to implementation of the Election Commission’s directive in the State.
He, however, stated that the Government would examine the issues raised by the agitating NGOs.
On the prevailing law and order situation in the State, the Home Minister said that the government was concerned over the situation and all necessary measures would be put in place to see that there is no breakdown of the law and order machinery in the State.
The State Government meanwhile has decided to intensify police patrolling to alleviate any sense of fear in the minds of the people.