Shillong, Nov 7: The Meghalaya government has appealed to the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) to withdraw their strike action and engage in talks with the government to resolve the ongoing dispute over transport rates.
Speaking to reporters today, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the government has convened a meeting chaired by Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar with MCTODA to discuss the issue.
“From the government, we requested them to withdraw the agitational programme and instead (of agitating) better you come to the table for discussion,” Tynsong said.
When asked about the arrested MCTODA leaders, Tynsong said that the law will take its own course.
“That is what I am saying, first of all we would request all of them to call off the agitational programmes and make sure traffic movement goes smoothly as usual,”he added.
Meanwhile, the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) condemned the “excesses and brutality” committed by the state government on the members of MCTODA.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said that the action of the government deserves strongest condemnation from all quarters and it has no place in a democratic society.
Myrboh said that the action of the government has brought shock to the residents of Mawryngkneng particularly women and children.
“Instead of ensuring peace and tranquility in the state the government chooses to strike fear among the people while at the same time treat the cement companies as the VIPs of the state,” Myrboh said.
He also said that the brutish nature of the MDA government is not a new thing.
The VPP spokesperson said that previously, the government committed the same brutality on the people of Thangskai in East Jaintia Hills District during the public hearing for the expansion of the cement plant.
“Likewise, the MDA government used tear gases on the peaceful protesting teachers and the general public,” Myrboh said.
The VPP spokesperson also lauded the residents of Mawryngkneng for their act of defiance to “an authoritarian government which is but an inspiration for others to stand up against injustices and brutalities.”
Further, the Party affirmed that peaceful protest is a democratic right of every citizen that needs to be respected more so when the demand is genuine as in the case of the demand of the association.
“We also demand an immediate release of all the arrested office bearers of the Association and all criminal charges against them be dropped completely,” Myrboh said.
