By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 20: The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) on Monday demanded that the state government issue an immediate and public clarification on the situation in Lapangap, following reports that villagers are being prevented from harvesting the crops they have cultivated — allegedly under pressure from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
MPMC president Joplyn Scott Shylla said the party “will not remain silent” on the issue and vowed to stand with the farmers, mothers, and women of Lapangap whose hard work is being taken away from them.
“Let the Chief Minister of Meghalaya explain who controls our land — Shillong or Dispur?” Shylla questioned in a statement.
Criticising the state government’s silence, Shylla demanded a firm response from Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. “Why has your government failed to protect our people from interference by Assam?” she asked.
Shylla further urged that the people of Lapangap be allowed to harvest their crops immediately “without fear, pressure, or political interference.”
“If the Government of Meghalaya cannot stand with its own people, who will?” she added.
The MPMC president also expressed concern over reports that farmers, including many women cultivators, were being intimidated or stopped from reaping their crops.
“Is the Chief Minister of Assam now deciding who in Meghalaya can farm and harvest? This is a serious violation of the rights of indigenous communities and farmers. It is not just a land issue — it concerns dignity, food security, and state sovereignty,” Shylla stated.
Earlier, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) also voiced deep concern over the plight of Lapangap farmers, who have reportedly been unable to harvest their crops due to repeated attacks from neighbouring Karbi villages.
In a statement, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah described the situation as “very unfortunate,” adding that despite repeated efforts to resolve the issue, farmers continue to face hostility.
Passah criticised Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s recent remark that the government could not provide security during harvesting because “the safety of lives was more important.”
“A farmer or village dependent on agriculture for survival faces a threat to life if they are prevented from harvesting their crops,” Passah countered.
“We expected the Chief Minister to initiate talks with Assam and arrange joint security to facilitate the harvesting,” he said.
Passah further asserted that if the Meghalaya government cannot ensure the safety of farmers, it should compensate them for their losses.
He also claimed that the Chief Minister’s statement suggests that any talks or settlement on the issue will take place only after the Assam elections.
“Such delays have become a pattern,” Passah said. “The Chief Minister will then say after the Meghalaya elections, and later after the MP elections — while the farmers and villagers of Lapangap continue to suffer repeatedly.”
