SHILLONG, May 9: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has asked the government not to succumb to the demands of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) for land and the cost of construction of their houses.
The pressure group warned that its members would make all the landless Khasi occupy government properties if the HPC’s demands are accepted.
Speaking to media persons after meeting Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said they are against the HPC’s demand of nine acres of land for their resettlement besides the cost of construction of their houses. He said the Harijan Colony became government property after the Syiem of Hima Mylliem handed over the colony land to the Meghalaya government. “How can the HPC, whose members do not have land of their own, demand free land from the government?” he asked.
“No matter what, the government should not accept their demands,” he said, adding that the HYC has no issues with providing official quarters to all the government employees among the Harijan Colony residents.
“Today, the government does not have permanent offices and is operating from rented premises,” Kharjahrin said.
“If the HPC members consider themselves as landowners, why did they seek NOC to build a gurudwara and a temple there (colony)?” he asked.
He also said they were surprised when the government said it would give special consideration to the employees to stay in the colony.
Recalling the “forceful eviction” many Khasi people from Umsawli, Kharjahrin asked why the government is not taking a similar stand for the Harijan Colony residents.
“If the government goes ahead, we will agitate and demand free houses for the landless Khasi people,” he said.
The HYC chief said if the HPC can demand a 200 sq. m plot for each family, each Khasi family should get a 2,000 sq. m plot.
Lamenting that many indigenous people do not have a place to stay in Meghalaya, he said Harijans never took part in the statehood movement. “Who are they to dictate the government?” he asked.
