NONGSTOIN: The FKJGP West Khasi Hills district unit has vehemently condemned the proposed designated camp of the ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills District saying that the decision of the government would lead to communal clashes between the Garos and the Khasis of the State who have been living in harmony for generations.
They also feared that the decision was a ploy by the government to divide the Khasis and the Garos.
The FKJGP also asked the government to scrap the order through which it had ordered the withdrawal of the Home Guard Border Wing from Kyrshai located at the border of West Khasi Hills District and Assam. They mentioned that the Home Guard Wing at Kyrshai greatly benefitted the people of Kyrshai as it successfully tackled crime and encroachment attempts by the Assam residents.
President of the FKJGP West Khasi Hills District Unit, Palwanbor Syiem, said, “I am appalled by the revocation order of the Home Guards. It appears that there is something going on behind the scene. The revocation order appears as though the Government of Meghalaya has surrendered itself to the Assam government. We demand a clarification from the Meghalaya Government. However, we would be delighted if the government orders a replacement of the Home Guard with a Police Outpost at Kyrshai.”
They said that they would soon meet the Home Minister in this regard and place their demands.
Meanwhile the KSU West Khasi Hills District in an emergency meeting provided the government with a two-week deadline to scrap the order for setting up the ANVC-B designated camp and also to scrap the order of removal of the Home Guard Border Wing from Kyrshai.
The KSU demanded that the Home Guard wing should be upgraded to a police outpost considering that the government of Assam might be emboldened to encroach into Meghalaya land at Kyrshai. He also reminded that HDR Lyngdoh, the then Home Minister, had assured that he would create or upgrade many border outposts in Meghalaya, but exactly the opposite was going on at present.
The Union said they have planned various agitational programmes if the government did not scrap the order for setting up the designated camp of the ANVC-B.
On the recent ANVC-B challenge to the NGOs of West Khasi Hills District, the KSU said that they would soon get in touch with the Garo NGOs and leaders of Aradonga to ascertain the facts.
Lyngkhoi also added that if the government forcibly sets up the designated camp of the Garo outfit in Khasi Hills, they would have no option but to join a militant outfit to protect the rights of the indigenous people of Khasi Hills.