TURA, July 19: Law Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh’s statement against the demand for a Winter Capital in Tura has drawn severe criticism from Garo Hills-based groups who have termed her excuse as “weak and flimsy”.
“It is unfortunate that she has given such a sweeping statement. She didn’t even have second thoughts on whether it would hurt our sentiments. Her reason for not giving in is that Meghalaya has diverse districts which are not true. Her excuse for denying what our forefathers had promised us is weak and flimsy,” Laben Ch Marak, adviser of the A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK), said on Wednesday.
He added that the Hill State Movement was started by a Garo and the people fought for it not to become second citizens but to have an equal share of development. The former MCS officer also pointed out that Ampareen’s statement that other districts will also demand the same if winter capital is given to Tura is misleading.
“She had said that if winter capital is given to Tura, other districts both from the Garo Hills and the Khasi/Jaintia Hills will also demand the same. Not only is this illogical but also misleading. As far as my knowledge goes, there is also no demand from the Khasi Hills region for another capital there,” he said.
The A’chik Youth Movement for Betterment of Society (AYMBS) has extended support to the ACHIK and other supporting groups who are currently staging a hunger strike demanding a Winter Capital in Tura.
“The Winter Capital in Tura is our birthright for which the founding fathers of the state have agreed upon during its creation in 1972. We are not asking anything from our brothers from the Khasi-Jaintia community but merely reminding the government of what was promised to us,” its president Peterjob A. Sangma said.
AYMBS also wanted to know if it was a party statement or the government or if she had been directed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to make it.
The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has decided to welcome Ampareen during her visit to Garo Hills from July 20-22 by holding black flags, badges and wearing black t-shirts in all the districts which is mentioned in her travel itinerary.
The GSMC said the statements made by Ampareen are irresponsible, impertinent, unconcerned, unequal, jealousy and an insult to the founding fathers of Meghalaya.
“Her statements are unacceptable. It is attempt to create mistrust and misunderstanding with the Garo Community,” the GSMC said.
