SHILLONG, Dec 30: Hundreds took part in the peaceful procession called by the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) on Friday to protest the tweet by former cricketer turned Trinamool Congress leader Kirti Azad mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wearing a traditional Khasi dress during an official programme in Shillong on December 18.
The organisation also slammed Azad for insulting the Khasi culture by morphing a female attire on Modi.
Before taking out the procession, HITO leaders held brief meeting at the Jaiaw taxi stand, Motphran to address the organisation’s members.
The police, deployed in large numbers, put up a barricade at Them Bijoy to prevent the rallyists from proceeding from Motphran toward GS Road and Khyndailad.
The organisation had earlier announced the procession will commence from Motphran, proceed through GS road and culminate at the statues of the three Meghalaya legends on the State Central Library premises.
HITO president Donbok Dkhar told the gathering that they decided to change the route in order not to disturb the people shopping for the festive season.
He said the procession was organised to uphold the “self-respect and proud history” of the Khasi people besides commemorating the 160th death anniversary of the legendary U Woh Kiang Nangbah.
From Them Bijoy, the procession took the Lum Survey-Rhino Point-Civil Hospital junction route before culminating at the State Central Library.
The procession was paused for a while at the Civil Hospital junction where the leaders paid floral tributes to the statue of Kiang Nangbah.
Addressing the members at the junction, HITO education secretary Arnell Nongdhar condemned Azad’s much-reported tweet insulting the country’s Prime Minister and the Khasi community.
He said the organisation filed an FIR against Azad at the Sadar PS since they were not satisfied with his apologies on social media.
Nongdhar said action should be taken against Azad according to the relevant provisions of the law if he fails to apologise to the entire Khasi community in black and white.
“We will be launching a protest if he does not apologise,” he said.
