USTM event on Good Friday draws KSU’s ire

NONGPOH, March 29: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills unit, on Wednesday flagged opposition to a programme which is being organised by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on Good Friday.
The programme in question is North East Graduate Congress, which is being held from April 7 to 9.
Accusing the university of failing to respect the sentiments of the Christian community, KSU North Khasi Hills president, Ferdynald Kharkamni, said that holding an event on Good Friday is insulting.
Maintaining that April 7 to 9 is Holy Week for Christians, Kharkamni informed that the KSU USTM-RIST Unit had written a complaint letter to the USTM, urging that the event be rescheduled.
The letter also stated that holding an event on a day which is significant for the Christian community would hurt the sentiments of the Christian students in the university in particular and the Christian community of Meghalaya in general.
It was also reminded to the USTM that Good Friday is listed as a holiday in the university’s holiday list.
Meanwhile, the KSU has also requested the USTM to add Behdienkhlam and Thomas Jones Day to its list of holidays as well.
The union has also appealed to the state government to intervene in the matter.