HNYF stages protest against bid to set up Invest Meghalaya Agency

Shillong, Jan 16: As a mark of protest against the state government’s move to set up the Invest Meghalaya Agency (IMA), the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) central body on Thursday is holding one-day sit-in near the statue of U Kiang Nangbah opposite Shillong Civil Hospital from 11 am to 3 pm.
The HNYF members shouted slogans to condemn the decision of the State Government to come up with a legislation which seeks to create a land bank, implying the power to acquire land to allocate to investors and added that the IMA has been made the agent of land acquisition in favour of non-tribal entities.
The pressure groups said that the IMA will harm the tribal community of the state by opening the way for control of land by outside private companies.
Protesters were carrying placards which reads- “Protect Our Land. Stand Against the MDA Govt”, “Our Land is Our Legal Right”, “Unity Against Injustice. Rise Against Lease Agreement” and so on.