Shillong, Sep 11: A conglomerate of civil society organisations in Garo Hills has said that the medical student, whom the National People’s Youth Front’s (NPYF) has sought an apology for “disrespecting” Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, does not need to do so.
NPYF, the youth wing of the National People’s Party (NPP), which Conrad leads, criticised the person’s conduct at the meeting as unbecoming of a medical student and insulting not just to the CM but to the elders and others present.
A student of RIMS Imphal had spoken out against the proposed public private partnership (PPP) model for the upcoming Tura Medical College at a public meeting in Tura at the end of August.
However, the conglomerate of civil society organisations comprising of ADE, AYWO, FAF, FKJGP and GSU in a statement today said, “The Conglomerate Civil Society Organisations was present throughout the whole meeting which lasted between 5 to 6 hours and in the course of the entire meeting, we did not witnessed any action or behaviour which suggested that the student in question lacks knowledge, maturity and basic etiquette.”
The organisations said that the medical student displayed composure and patience despite not getting satisfactory answers to his questions from the authorities. “There was only one instance which was caught on camera whereby, his tone and expressive gestures may have been construed by some as arrogance or rebellious. However, we believe to understand what actually transpired, one has to understand the exact context in which the words were spoken. By the time the incident occurred, it was almost 3 hours into the meeting and despite our persuasion, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya was mildly dismissive of our suggestions and the discussion of the meeting was going in circles which may have led the student to act a little assertive in expressing his opinions,” they said.
The organisations praised the student for the courage and sense of duty for taking part in the meeting and said, “As per our observations, the medical student in question did not act or behaved in a way that warrants an apology.”
Meanwhile, the New Tura Development Forum Garo Graduates Union and Tura Garo Senior Citizens Forum also said that the student does not need to tender an apology.
“We did not notice any signs of misbehaviour displayed by the student in the course of his discussions in the meeting. He, in fact, engaged in serious discussions. He politely talked to the Hon’ble Chief Minister addressing with formal salutations,” a joint statement said.
