TURA, July 21: Amid the threats of protest by members of various Tura-based groups in the town following her comments on the ACHIK and other NGOs demanding a winter capital and the clearance of backlog of reservations for the Garo community, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday cut short her three-day visit to the region and returned to Shillong directly from Resubelpara in North Garo Hills.
The minister was on a three-day tour to check on the status of healthcare in North Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills but shortened the tour amidst news of protesters gathering near the Circuit House at Tura.
Ampareen was expected to spend Thursday night at the circuit house, but she anticipated to be greeted by a slew of protesters who had amassed nearby. The protesters had gathered since the afternoon to condemn her statements on the demand for a Winter Capital, something that was not taken too well by the protesting groups.
Meanwhile the hunger strike by members of ACHIK, which completed 11 days on Friday, continues with the protest showing no signs of letting up. The protesters strikers have been demanding the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at the venue, even as political leaders from the region have shunned away from visiting those involved in the protest.
Saleng backs demand
Meanwhile, throwing his weight behind the demand for a Winter Capital in Tura, Congress legislator Saleng Sangma on Friday said there is nothing wrong in the demand and the government should send some ministers to see if the demand can be met.
Sangma gave examples of states like Kashmir which has two capitals — Jammu and Srinagar. “Likewise, Himachal Pradesh also has two capitals, Dharamshala and Shimla,” Sangma said.
Stating that it is the government’s call whether it creates a “Winter Capital” in Tura or an “Autumn Capital” in Jowai, Sangma maintained that such demands will always be there.
Reacting to the ongoing demand, Sangma said there may have been some kind of agreement in the past that led to the agitation.
“When the APHLC had united for a separate state demand, there must have been some kind of negotiations such as 40-40% job reservation, Winter Capital in Tura, and Summer Capital in Shillong. So, we have to go back in history and see why till date the Winter Capital has not been created,” he said.