SHILLONG: ICARE president Toki Blah on Thursday clarified that the public gathering at Khyndailad on October 21 was an independent ICARE initiative. “It was neither sponsored by the Government nor by any other agency,” Blah said, while making it clear that the musical concert conducted on another platform on the same day and venue was not an ICARE initiative.
The ICARE also said that permission had been sought and obtained from the district authority for holding the public gathering at Khyndailad.
The ICARE president also asserted that it is committed in its opposition to bandhs and other forms of agitation that adversely affect the rhythm of life especially that of the poor, the marginalised, the students and the daily wage earner.
“The public gathering is a testimony to that commitment,” Blah said.
“ICARE has nothing to say about the issues or differences that groups have with the Government. Its stand is simple. In such confrontations the innocent public should not be made the whipping boy,” Blah added.