SHILLONG, JULY 4: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has demanded the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to immediately scrap its recent notification in regards to Majai.
HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said, “The NPP government, both in the KHADC and the state, is causing the people of Sohra to suffer from hunger and is turning their lives inside out and upside down. Instead of upgrading Sohra into a district, it shut down the MCCL and attempted to make our people jobless and useless population.”
“The HNLC warned the CEM that he would immediately scrap the recent notification to reclassify Majai as a raid, or else. Majai was controlled by the big wings of the non-tribal and ‘Ingkhong shyllangmat’,” he said. He said that the reclassification notification brought great joy to the non-tribal residents of Majai, who celebrated the occasion with enthusiastic displays such as burning crackers, fireworks, and dancing.
He added, “The people of Hynniewtrep are tired of the politicians’ lies and the government’s deception. The youth want to become self-reliant and address their own problems, but the NPP-led government is taking away their jobs and small businesses, favoring non-tribal economic empowerment instead.”
“The closure of the cement factory and the ban on small businesses selling sand and quarry stone hinder their economic opportunities. Despite efforts by the Hima and Syiem to assist by allowing the export of limestone to Bangladesh, the KHADC seeks to impede these initiatives to support non-tribal exporters,” Nongtraw said.