SHILLONG: In an interesting move, the pressure groups have sent letters inviting all political parties in the State to take part in the public rally scheduled to be held at Jaiaw on Saturday.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, HNYF general secretary Sadon K Blah, on behalf of all the pressure groups, said that invitations have been sent to political parties including the Congress, BJP, UDP, HSPDP, KHNAM and CPI to attend the public meeting on ILP so that all the stakeholders can express unity on the issue.
“We also insist that all the 60 sitting MLAs of the State should attend the meeting and we are inviting them to be a part of it,” Blah said.
The pressure groups also wanted all intellectuals, academicians, students, businessmen including people from the tourism industry, Government officials, members of the District Councils and others to attend the meeting.
“We also invite all other NGOs, even those not actively involved in the ILP imbroglio, operating in the State to participate in the public rally,” Blah said.
According to the NGO leader, the intention of holding the public meeting is to clarify the stand taken by the pressure groups on the need to implement ILP in the State.
“The present government, it seems, is moving towards dictatorship where the 29 MLAs under the leadership of the Chief Minister are trying to suppress the voice of the people,” Blah asserted.
He added that this can be exemplified by the fact that the Government is trying to silence the voice of dissent by threatening even the members of the student community who had raised dissenting voices on the implication of the Government’s proposed Tenancy Verification Bill.
“Amendment of draconian laws like the MMPO and random arrest of the members of the NGOs are other examples of the government’s moves to suppress the movement (on ILP),” Blah said adding that through the public meeting the NGOs want to send a message to the government that no amount of force can dictate them to shun their fight to ensure survival of the indigenous people of the State.