North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, who is into the third day of his sit-in at Malki Ground, said today that it is the state government and not him that is engaging in ‘political drama’.
Nongrum was accused of this yesterday by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. However, he pointed out that the government has given in and accepted one of his demands, namely increasing the age limit for government jobs, though in fairness this demand was common to many political forces in Meghalaya.
“They are trying to underestimate me but let me remind the public for a record that the MDA government assured to resolve the Harijan Colony issue two to three days before voting in the [October 30] by-elections. They (the MDA) said everything is ready for the relocation that did not happen to date, so who is playing the political drama?” he told Highland Post.
The lone legislator from the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) had given the government just five days to take action to revise the state’s reservation policy, increase the upper age limit for government jobs, create a separate Meghalaya cadre for the civil service, relocate the Sweepers’ Colony (aka Harijan Colony) residents and solve Meghalaya’s border dispute with Assam.
Today he stated that the government will only take action on these issues if it will gain political mileage from them.
“I’m staging this sit-in not to become famous but am being faithful towards my people who have chosen me as their representative. I have also raised these issues every time on the floor of the Assembly to no avail,” he added.
The protest will end on Saturday, a day after Meghalaya’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
