Pro-ILP groups announce fresh stir
SHILLONG: The anti-foreigner movement in the State is set to get bigger with pro-ILP groups announcing state-wide ‘road-blockade’ for three nights from November 5 despite requests from several quarters to the agitating groups as well as government to settle the issue through negotiation.
The road blockade would be effective in all the eleven districts of the state from 8 pm to 5 am, informed KSU president Daniel Khyriem in a statement issued here on Sunday.
The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the fourteen pressure groups — KSU, FKJGP, HNYF,G5U, JSU, RBYF, CSWO,KWADDA, JYF, AJYWO, AYWO, ADE, AIGU and FAF — held on Saturday.
The night blockade will affect movement of vehicles on National Highways 40 and 44, the lifelines for landlocked Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and Assam.
“We are forced to adopt such methods due to the adamant attitude and failure of the Mukul Sangma-led government to implement ILP as recommended by the high level committee on influx in 2012,” Khyriem said.
The State is experiencing a series of shutdowns, night road blockades and picketing of offices since September 2 after the breakdown of talks between government and agitating groups on ILP issue.
Khyriem further said that it was disheartening to note that the Chief Minister has equated the demands of the agitating groups to armed militant organisations.
“We don’t not possess any arms to lay down and surrender but wish to exercise our rights as per the Constitution to demand for a legitimate implementation of law to protect the interest of the indigenous people,” he said.
FKJGP clarification: Meanwhile, FKJGP, a part of the agitating pro-ILP groups, has clarified that the group is still firm on its commitment on the need to implement the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation Act 1873 throughout Meghalaya.
FKJGP general secretary Wellbirth Rani on Sunday said, ” We simply wanted to put forward our point that it is not the NGOs who close the door for negotiation by saying that it is not willing to discuss anything other than ILP. But it is the State government which closes the door for negotiation by saying that it is willing to discuss other mechanism and not ILP.”
Request to change timing: Meanwhile, the Rangdajied United FC Management has appealed to pro-ILP groups to change the timing of road blockade from 8 pm to 10 pm in view of the club’s upcoming I-League match against Salgaocar FC on Tuesday.
In a statement issued here, Rangdajied United FC said that with the match starting at 5 pm, a road blockade starting at 8pm is bound to cause inconvenience to the spectators.
“Moreover, it will also be a challenge for the players, officials and organisers to get back to their respective places by the said time,” Club said.