Five pressure groups, who had tried to march towards the Secretariat after the promulgation of Section 144 of the CrPC by the East Khasi Hills district administration, were today given an audience with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
The groups consist of Hynñiewtrep Youth Council, Hynñiewtrep Achik National Movement, Jaiñtia Students Movement and the Confederation of Ri Bhoi People under one banner called, ‘Save Hynñiewtrep Mission’.
The leaders of the pressure group had come together under a single platform to raise nine demands that include the implementation of Inner Line Permit, inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, solution to the long-pending Harijan Colony issue and review of the MoU signed between Meghalaya and Assam in phase I of border talks.
During the meeting with Tynsong, the leaders placed before him the issues which they are concerned about.
HYC president, Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters that they were informed that the state government will again raise the demand for ILP with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who will be visiting Shillong soon.
The group demanded the government to immediately shift the 342 families from Them Ïew Mawlong and suggested providing rent allowance to these families so that they can stay somewhere else for the time being before the completion of the government quarters
Kharjahrin said they have also demanded complete revamp and review of the reservation policy. He also said that the delay from Assam in constituting the regional committees for the phase II border talks and the possibility of fixing it is distant and cannot be done before the elections.
