SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) organised a black flag protest on Wednesday to press for its 14-point charter of demands.
The protest began with HYC members tying a black banner on the gate of Health and Family Welfare Minister Roshan Warjri’s house at Mawkhar.
The HYC members, led by HYC vice president Donboklang Kharlyngdoh, then marched towards Motphran market.
Later in the day, the protesters put up black flags in different parts of the city. Two HYC members were taken to Sadar police station but were released later.
However, the anti-railway protesters could not put up a banner at the gate of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s bungalow. “We have been pressing for the 14-point demand charter again and again but there has been no response from the State Government,” assistant general secretary of HYC central body H Saiborne told reporters.
The council is demanding Inner Line Permit, issuance of work permits, implementation of law on Benami transaction and others before any railway project in the State.
The members wanted to meet Sangma last Saturday but he and his Cabinet colleagues snubbed it prompting the pressure group to resort to agitations.
Criticising the legislators, Saiborne said, “The conscience of the representatives is dead. The ministers do not understand and are deaf to the plight of the indigenous people. As a State we need strong laws to prevent influx.”
Sairborne maintained that strong laws need to be framed for the security of the future generation.
He directed the HYC members to pin black flags on commuters. “We should not force them (the public) but tell them why we are doing so and if they allow, we can pin the black flag on them,” he said.
HYC will continue their agitation with a sit-in demonstration at the parking lot of the Additional Secretariat. They want a discussion with all ruling alliance MLAs on July 29.
