SHILLONG: With placards in hand, a group of over 10 youths led by president of Ri-War Mihngi Development Council (RMDC), S.B Tariang, demonstrated at the inauguration site of the Civil Sub-Division in Pynursla on Wednesday a few minutes before the arrival of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
An outburst of objection ensued with members of the Raid arguing with Tariang who was asked to leave the venue.
“You should stop whatever you are doing,” a Raid member told Tariang to which he answered, “We want 100 per cent appreciation of the Civil Sub-division and nothing else.”
Some of the placards read, “100 per cent appreciation of the inauguration of Civil Sub-Division.
“We request for special consideration of local people. We request the state government to speed up the inauguration of border haats.”
Tariang wished to submit a memorandum to the CM which, however, did not materialise after the clash with the locals and raid members.
The memorandum stated that the state government should consider local youths for employment at the newly formed Civil Sub-Division. It also mentioned the border haats which were closed after the Indo-Pak war in 1971 and called upon the state government to revitalise them at the earliest.
In terms of agriculture, the organisation stated that the state government should take effective control of soil erosion as top soil gets washed away to Bangladesh every year.
Later, speaking to reporters, Tariang stated that the organisation is not against the inauguration of the Civil Sub-Division which has been a long cherished dream of the people of the Constituency.
“However, I strongly urge the state government to help the local youth who are qualified,” he said.
At the same time, he mooted the idea of vocational training that will help the youth in becoming local entrepreneurs.
Justifying his stand on the planned disruption, Tariang said, “Holding the placard is not that we are against the inauguration of the Civil Sub-Division but it’s a show of appreciation.”
When asked as to why he did not meet the local community members as it has embarrassed them on this day, he justified his stand by lauding the Chief Minister’s effort in bringing a Civil Sub-Division and said, “We only want to urge the Chief Minister to help the people of the Constituency.”
