SHILLONG, Oct 24: A conglomerate of NGOs from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, such as HYC, HANM, JSM and Confederation of Ri Bhoi People, on Monday announced the “Save Hynniewtrep Mission” which comprises nine demands.
HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said they would launch a series of agitations to pressure the state government so that it fulfils the demands before the election model code of conduct comes into effect.
The demands include the implementation of Inner Line Permit, inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, solution to the long-pending Harijan Colony issue and review of the MoU signed between Meghalaya and Assam in phase I of border talks.
The NGOs also demanded action against police officers involved in the killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, making public the reports of different probe commissions, job reservation, officially scrapping the Gaming Act which allows the setting up of casinos in the state and solving the unemployment problem.
Synrem said they will not submit any written memorandum to the government as these are not new demands.
He reminded that the High Powered Committee (HPC) on the Harijan Colony issue was given six months to submit recommendations on the relocation of the government employees who reside in the area.
“We would want the HPC to complete the process before the model code of conduct is enforced,” the HYC general secretary said.
Insisting on the review of the border MoU, he said the government is yet to make public the reports of the probe commissions.
They probed alleged corruption in smart meter project, rice scam, under-construction Assembly building dome collapse and Saubhagya scheme.
“We had demanded CBI inquiries into these cases but the government did not pay heed to it. We fear the various inquiry reports will be wrapped under the carpet,” Synrem said.
