SHILLONG, Nov 10: The prohibitory orders imposed by the East Khasi Hills district administration under Section 144 CrPC went for a toss on Thursday with two surprise rallies organised by pressure groups in the city.
protest at the Shillong Civil Hospital junction. (ST)
While normalcy was not affected, chaotic scenes were witnessed at Dhankheti and IGP as pressure groups, led by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), made a mockery of the prohibitory orders by asserting that it was their democratic right to protest against the wrongdoings of the government.
The first surprise rally was led by the HYC with the agenda being the delay in release of scholarships by the government. Surprisingly, the rally occurred a day after Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui announced on Wednesday that the government was releasing over Rs 169 crore worth of scholarships. The HYC not only took out the surprise rally but also issued an ultimatum to the government to disburse the scholarships among the students by November 15 or face stronger agitation.
Elaborating on the same, the HYC said it would put the Secretariat under lock and key if the scholarships are delayed beyond the deadline.
The East Khasi Hills district administration had denied permission to the HYC for organising the rally on Thursday, stating that the issue pertaining to the release of scholarships has been addressed by the government.
“If the district administration feels that the organisation has defied the Section 144 CrPC today they can send me a summon letter but I will not bow down on any issue concerning the student community of our state,” HYC education secretary Enlang Sawian said, while disclosing that many of their members have been summoned by the police in connection with agitations that happened two years ago.
Gathering outside the Shillong Law College, the HYC questioned the state government for the delay in releasing the scholarships due to the students since 2021. Sawain wanted to know whether the MDA Government intends to “buy” the MLAs and the public with the money meant for scholarships.
He also urged the students to be prepared for agitations if the scholarship is further delayed.
In the second surprise rally on Thursday, members of the Save Hynniewtrep Mission (SHM), a conglomerate of pressure groups, gathered at the Shillong Civil Hospital junction and marched up to the IGP point and gathered opposite the KJP Assembly. Tight security prevented them from proceeding further towards the Secretariat.
“No ILP no rest; Conrad Sangma down, down; Prestone Tynsong down, down,” they chanted as they displayed banners reading: “Is Conrad Sangma trying to stifle the voice of dissent in the State” and “Save Democratic rights”, among others.
HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem said, “What had happened yesterday clearly shows that we no longer live in a democratic country. The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government is trying to suppress the voice of dissent.”
According to him, the police on Wednesday had used force against HYC members and snatched their placards and banners when they were trying to highlight their nine-point demands as part of the Save Hynniewtrep Mission.
Synrem claimed that many of its members had sustained injuries while resisting the attempt by the policemen to snatch their placards and banners.
He recalled that the police had earlier used force and fired tear gas on contractual teachers who were agitating along with their family members.
“In a democracy, we have the right to agitate and question the wrongdoings of the government. The MDA Government has now been rechristened as Meghalaya Dictatorship Government,” he added.
