SHILLONG, Dec 11: The leaders of the National Federation for New States (NFNS), a pan-India body representing regions demanding separate and smaller states, will be holding a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 14 and 15.
The Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) have decided to take part in the protest.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang told The Shillong Times on Sunday that the HSPDP and GSMC leaders are scheduled to meet at Mawphanlur in West Khasi Hills on Monday before heading for New Delhi on Tuesday. A few leaders would be leaving for Delhi on Monday itself.
The NFNS has been demanding the creation of the states of Bodoland, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha, Tipraland, Kukiland, Frontier Nagaland, Bundelkhand, Purbanchal and Karbi Anglong (autonomous).
With the HSPDP and GSMC joining the federation, the demand for bifurcating Meghalaya into the Khasi-Jaintia state and Garoland is likely to be included in the agenda of the NFNS.
Pangniang said the HSPDP, which is spearheading the movement, is happy to be part of the NFNS.
He said the NFNS would give them a platform for impressing upon the Centre the need for the creation of the Khasi-Jaintia state.
“At the moment, we are not looking to get the support of the other political parties. Our focus will be to get the support of the Khasi indigenous people. The creation of the Khasi-Jaintia state is the need of the hour since it in the best interest of our own people,” Pangniang said, insisting that the HSPDP wants the bifurcation to happen peacefully.
“It is going to take time for this to materialise. But I am sure it will happen when the people realise the need to have their own state,” he said.
On former party president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit rejecting the idea of the Khasi-Jaintia state, Pangniang said he would not like to comment on someone’s personal opinion.
“But as a party, we are firm about pursuing this matter till its logical end,” he added.
A delegation from the GSMC, which has been spearheading the Garoland movement, is currently on its way to New Delhi to participate in the two-day programme of the NFNS.
The delegation is leaving by night bus from Tura to Guwahati from where it will proceed to New Delhi on Monday, a statement by the committee on Sunday said.
Besides participating in the protest, the delegation would take up the statehood issue with Tura MP Agatha K Sangma and raise the demand during the parliament session.
