Shillong, Aug 29: Citizens gathered at the State Central Library premises on Saturday for a silent gathering for peace, unity and harmony called by Meghalaya Linguistic Minority Development Forum (MLMDF) after vandalism of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose bust and Swami Vivekananda statue at R R Colony.
MLMDF president Sushit Kanti condemned the desecration as painful and against Meghalaya’s spirit. “Even through silence, we can achieve a lot,” he said.
Pamphlets with quotes of Bose and Vivekananda were distributed during the programme.
Arts & Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai and MLA Paul Lyngdoh joined the gathering. Both appreciated the initiative and said they hope seeing citizens join such an effort to remind people of shared culture, coexistence and togetherness.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visited RR Colony, Rynjah, inspected the damage and met members of the welfare society and dorbar shnong on Saturday.
He handed over ₹ 5 lakh for renovation of the damaged bust of Subhas Chandra Bose, and the glass display of the statue of Swami Vivekananda.
The statues were damaged during the Khasi Students Union rally on August 19.
The Netaji bust was originally installed on January 23, 2023 to commemorate Bose’s birth anniversary. Bose had historical association with Shillong, having first visited in 1927 and later in 1938.
