The banned Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has termed the recent decision of the State government to extend the lease period of government land from 30 to 60 years as an “ill-conceived” move.
The Meghalaya government had recently decided on doubling the lease period to better cater to the needs of large-scale investments and projects and attract investors.
“This is nothing short of a betrayal of our people’s right to land and resources. Cloaked as a strategy to attract investors, this policy is, in reality, a blatant attempt to sell off our ancestral lands to outsiders and corporations. It threatens to push the Hynñiewtrep people into a grim future of marginalization and exploitation. Land is not just property; it is the lifeblood of the Hynñiewtrep people—the foundation of our heritage, our identity, and our independence,” HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in an email press release.
He said extending the lease period, the government is effectively granting control of prime Hynñiewtrep land to outsiders for two generations. “This policy is not about development—it is about sacrificing the rights of indigenous communities for the benefit of corporate greed,” he said.
Nongtraw said projects like the Rs 300 crore Orchid Polo venture will not uplift the Hynñiewtrep people but instead lead to the erosion of our cultural heritage, environmental degradation, and economic dependency. The voices of local entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, and community leaders have been silenced in favour of outsider interests, he stated.
Stating that this “betrayal” is compounded by Meghalaya’s deeply flawed governance structure, the HNLC said the finance portfolio has been has been monopolised by chief ministers. “First Dr Mukul Sangma for a decade and now Conrad Sangma for seven years. Both leaders hail from the Garo community, sidelining the Khasi and Jaintia communities and fostering mistrust. This lack of inclusivity has weakened Meghalaya’s unity and stunted its growth,” he claimed.
Calling Assam a progressive state the HNLC said specialized finance ministers handle fiscal responsibilities but Meghalaya suffers from a centralized and autocratic approach that has led to severe socio-economic challenges. “If larger states like Assam can appoint finance ministers to ensure efficient management, why can’t Meghalaya? The Sangma monopoly must end. It’s time to distribute power equitably, give the Hynñiewtrep people a voice in their governance, and ensure that leadership reflects the aspirations of all communities,” it said.
The HNLC said that Meghalaya’s economy has failed to grow as the state with its rich resources remains mired in poverty, unemployment, mismanagement, corruption that has left communities vulnerable and dependent. “These failures are not accidental—they are the direct result of a system designed to marginalize the Hynñiewtrep people,” Nongtraw added.
While calling for an immediate rejection of such anti-people policies, the HNLC said,” We must prioritize community-led development and ensure that land remains in the hands of our people. Local entrepreneurs, sustainable initiatives, and inclusive governance are the path forward, not corporate exploitation.”
Nongtraw further said that the Hynñiewtrep people deserve governance that reflects their aspirations, not the narrow interests of outsiders and their collaborators. “If the government is so determined to lease land, let Conrad Sangma, the CM and finance minister, start by leasing it in Garo Hills. After 60 years, let us see if Garo Hills will still belong to the Garo people or be reduced to a barren Garo plain. This government has no vision for the Hynñiewtrep people—its focus is to distract us with international artists, turning us into mere singers and dancers while outsiders reap the real benefits as producers and investors,” he said.
The HNLC also slammed cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh and said by leasing land for a staggering 60 years to foreign investors, is effectively condemning two generations of our future to servitude. “When the former president, stepped into politics, the people of Hynñiewtrep placed their hopes in him, believing he would lead with unwavering strength and a bold vision for the future. Yet, the so-called ‘Khlur ka Ri’—once hailed as the Star of Ri Khasi—has lost his way. Now, he stands unmasked as nothing more than a spineless intellect or a timid mind. What kind of leadership is this?”
It also said that the government should be establishing farms to ensure that our people can feed themselves, not relying on the kitchens of India for sustainability. “Instead, they are betraying our people by leasing our precious land to outsiders. These so-called investors exploit our resources to build factories, resorts, hotels, and other businesses, reducing our people to mere watchman, drivers, sweepers, waiters, maids, cooks, and labourers etc,” the HNLC said.
