24-hour State bandh on Oct 17
SHILLONG: Intensifying their demand for implementation of ILP to curb influx of outsiders, the pro-ILP pressure groups have called for a 24 hour state bandh on October 17.
The bandh would begin at 5 am on October 17.
“We have decided to resume our agitation to pressurize the State Government to implement ILP,” KSU vice president Frederick Kharmawphlang said after a meeting of the pro-ILP activists here on Tuesday night.
Earlier, the pro-ILP groups had temporarily suspended their agitations in view of Durga puja and Eid festivals.
“We are firm with our demand for implementation of ILP,” Kharmawphlang said adding that they would be willing to have a dialogue with the state government provided the latter aggress to discuss only ILP.
On the arrest of pro-ILP activists including FKJGP general secretary Eldie Newton Lyngdoh, the KSU president said, “It is really unfortunate that police are randomly arresting the members and volunteers of the different pressure groups without having any evidence against them.”
Kharmawphlang also informed that they would be meeting in the next few days to chalk out their next course of action if the Government fails to response to their demand.
KSU has been spearheading the agitation for ILP since September 4 along with Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and other pressure groups in the state.
During their month-long agitation, which was kept in abeyance during Durga Puja, the pro-ILP activists put up road blockades in the night, besides picketing in offices and sponsoring bandhs. Several people were injured and properties worth over Rs 40 crore damaged in the agitation.
The state government, which is against the “outdated” ILP introduced during the British rule, has constituted a special court to try the sponsors of bandhs and blockades in violation of Supreme Court order.