TURA, July 17: Support for the twin demands of the A’chik Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) received a major boost with several pressure groups and the general public from the Garo Hills region making a beeline for the protest site in front of the SMELC building in Tura to raise their voice for the retrospective implementation of the reservation system as well as making Tura the winter capital of Meghalaya, as has been envisioned during the state movement more than 51 years ago.
While ACHIK and the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) along with the United Garo People’s Forum (UGPF) began the hunger strike from July 11, they were joined by AAYF, NIKSAMSO, ASWA, TGCSU as well as senior citizens through the New Tura Development Forum (NTDF) on Monday.
Though the initial support for the movement was slow, it has picked up momentum in the past two days with more people coming forward to join the hunger strike.
One of the biggest additions to the hunger strike has been the BJP Mahila Morcha which has been sharing the protest stage since Sunday.
“This is not a political issue but one that is related to the community. A winter capital in Tura has not only been a demand but a promise by the founding fathers of the state which has been left neglected. This historical blunder needs to be rectified and that is why we have come to support our brothers and sisters. We have been deprived over generations and that has to be rectified through a retrospective system,” said BJP Mahila Morcha president, Rakkhi Sangma.
Former MDC from the Garo National Council (GNC), Augustine Marak said he was there to support the demand for a winter capital at Tura as it is a genuine one. On the aspect of job reservation, he felt the government was best at understanding sensibilities and acting accordingly.
Meghalaya BJP vice-president and GHADC MDC, Bernard Marak, who had earlier expressed his solidarity with the striking protestors, also joined the fasting groups on Monday. “They are fighting for genuine demands and I stand with them in solidarity. We appeal to the government to come forward and have a discussion with them so that a possible solution can be reached,” Bernard said.
ACHIK general secretary, Bernita Marak asserted that they were not against anyone and only wanted what was due to them.
“We want the implementation of the roster system retrospectively as we have been deprived since the past 50 years. If the leaders meant to implement it had done their jobs, we would not be sitting here to fight for this cause. As far as winter capital goes, our forefathers envisioned Tura as a capital and that is what we want to happen,” said Bernita.
Another senior member of ACHIK, Laben Ch Marak who is also a part of the hunger strike party said that their fight was only for their community and there was nothing against any other community in the state.
Bernita questioned the lack of audience from the district administration as well as the government as none came to speak to them for the past 7 days despite their hunger strike.
“In the case of Ardent Basaiawmoit’s protest, within 3 days there was a plethora of ministers and supporters who came to check on his well being. In our case, no one – neither from the government nor the opposition — has paid a visit to us to check whether we are dead or alive,” they both added.
The protesters have been surviving on water over the past 7 days and if the same continues, some serious health issues are a certainty.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Jagdish Chelani arrived at the scene of the protest on Monday afternoon and sought an end to the hunger strike.
Despite the DC’s assurances to the protestors that he was there as a representative of the government, the protesters refused to budge and promised to continue agitating until they receive an assurance from the chief minister himself.
The DC told them that the CM was unable to come due to work constraints but had daily conversations to know about the condition of the protestors. The CM would only be able to come the next week but the protestors were free to contact and meet him in Shillong at any time, he said.
“We understand you coming to talk to us but we are not budging until we get an assurance. This is the CM’s constituency and we have been on a hunger strike since the past 7 days and no one from the political firmament, ruling or opposition, have come to meet us. We are grateful to those that came and sat with us but our fight will continue till the CM visits us and gives an assurance to work on our demands,” said Laben.
On the question of the protestors being neglected, the DC said magistrates have been posted at the protest site on a daily basis.
“Magistrates have been posted on site and the DMHO has been informed. We have had at least three rounds of talks with the agitating group and they began by saying that they only wanted to do a sit-in before it changed into a hunger strike. We have been keeping a close eye on developments and I am in constant touch with the CM on the issue. They have not acceded to ending the hunger strike after a discussion with me and assurances. We are keeping a close watch to ensure nothing untoward happens,” the DC stated.
