Confusion worst confounded
SHILLONG: After throwing life completely out of gear by suddenly announcing a 36-hour bandh, the 13 pro-ILP pressure groups have decided to reduce the bandh by 24 hours. The bandh will now be effective form 5 am to 5 pm on Tuesday in the whole of Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
Informing this through a joint statement issued on Monday, the JSU, JYF and AJYWO, however, said that the proposed office picketing on December 13 stood as scheduled.
“We have taken the decision to reduce the hours of the bandh following request from several church bodies and organisations,” JSU president Rikut S Parien said.
Stating that many marriage ceremonies were scheduled to be solemnised on December 10, he said that they would request the concerned families to fly gas balloons in their vehicles for their volunteers to identify during the bandh hours.
“We have taken this decision since we would like to have the continuous support of the people till the demand to implement ILP in the State is achieved,” Parein said.
Earlier several people who were scheduled to travel outside the State on December 10 & 11 had to make hurried plans to cancel or reschedule their air/train tickets or to spend the next two days in Guwahati.
Even media houses were confused as there were conflicting reports about the change in bandh timings which came from unconfirmed channels.
Monday witnessed an unprecedented rush for last minute shopping of groceries. Major markets like Iewduh and Police Bazaar witnessed a huge rush throughout the day.
There were complaints from several quarters as this is the time for report cards to be given and for Christmas shopping as well.
Several state and Central government programmes/workshops/seminars etc had to be cancelled on account of the bandh.
Meanwhile, the NEHU student’s Union appealed to the pro-ILP groups who have called the bandh and office picketing as part of their agitation, to exempt North Eastern Hill University because of the ongoing end semester examination which will continue till the 20th of this month.
It may also be mentioned that due to the bandh on 10th and 11th December 2013 exams have been postponed which had severely affected the students.
Sources have said that at least thirty marriage ceremonies would have been disrupted during the 36-hour bandh hence some influential religious leaders were asked to intervene on behalf of the families.