Shillong, Jul 31: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) announced today that it will march to and surround the Secretariat on August 6, 2026 following a series of protest meetings held across various districts and locations in Khasi–Jaintia Hills since April.
These protests against the state government are based on 10 key demands.
The first demand is for the government to cancel the Lumpongdeng project in order to protect the land and the environment, a promise that the government had reportedly made following the hunger strike staged by the Green-Tech Foundation a few months ago.
The party is also demanding that the District Selection Committees (DSCs) and the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) function independently and fairly in the recruitment of job applicants. It further demands that the rights of teachers be respected by withdrawing policies considered to be against their interests.
Other demands include stopping the re-employment of retired personnel to create opportunities for unemployed youth; protecting public land and stopping the auction of sand-bearing land; preventing illegal infiltration by foreigners and safeguarding residents living along the border.
The party also demands the closure of coke and cement factories to protect the environment and public health, as well as conducting inspections and deporting illegal immigrants, among several other demands.
VPP president and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also asked the Chief Minister and his cabinet to be present on August 6 to see the public’s angst for themselves.
He urged the youths, women and others who are facing difficulties due to the actions of the government to come out on that day and support the VPP.
Basaiawmoit also reiterated that the plan to surround the Secretariat would be a peaceful one and warned anybody who may try to create trouble on that particular day.
He said that the volunteers of the party will be alert that there would not be any troublemakers on the day.
