No public hearing on April 2, claims EKH DC
press conference in the city on Tuesday. (ST)
SHILLONG: The KSU on Tuesday threatened to disrupt a proposed public hearing for verification of eligible voters at the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner’s office on April 2, even as Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal maintained that there was no scheduled hearing in his office on the said date.
“We have received information that on April 2 the East Khasi Hills district administration will be holding a public hearing in the Deputy Commissioner’s office,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem said on Tuesday.
The KSU president claimed that the government had given an assurance during the recent meeting that the hearing and verification of new voters would be held at the village level to be assisted by the Dorbar Shnong, adding that they had also been assured that directive will be given to all the deputy commissioners not to go ahead with the enrolment of new voters since it was not necessary at the moment with no elections scheduled to be held in the near future.
“It seems that the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner has ignored the government directive and violated the order,” the KSU president said.
“The Deputy Commissioner cannot overrule the government order. He should be removed from his post and replaced with an officer who would be sensitive to the interest of the tribals,” Khyriem added.
Meanwhile, Goyal stated that all hearings with regards to summary revision would be conducted in the periphery of the constituency depending on the number of applicants.
Allaying the concerns of the pressure groups, he said that he was willing to share the electoral rolls with the pressure groups for verification. “There is mistrust and misunderstandings,” he added.
Khasi National Awakening Day
The KSU will observe the Khasi National Awakening Day on April 4 across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
As part of the programme, the KSU will organise a public meeting at Jaiaw Parking Lot, Motphran.
“The purpose of observing the day is to awaken the indigenous people and make them aware about the dangers lurking in our society,” KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa said in a statement on Tuesday.
The day is observed to remember the supreme sacrifice made by legendary Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing who had started his fight against the British rulers on April 4, 1829.