Setting deadline till Monday for the two Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislators, Shakliar Warjri (Mawthadraishan) and Methodius Dkhar (Mawshynrut) to return to the regional parties’ alliance, the various pressure groups on Saturday burnt effigies of the two legislators.
The effigies were burnt during a public meeting called by the several pressure groups that includes Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) Ka Sur U Paidbah ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (KSUP7T), Hynniewtrep National Youth Movement (HNYM), Saiñdur Tipkur-tipkha Ïeng Ehrngiew Hynñiewtrep (STIEH) beside others.
Protesting against the decision of the two legislators to extend support to the National People’s Party (NPP) for formation of the new government, the civil society organisations said otherwise they will have to take some drastic measures.
Speaking to reporters, HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem said, “We condemned the two HSPDP MLAs for extending support to the NPP. We want to send them a clear message that they still have time to immediately withdraw their support to the NPP till March 7. If they don’t then we have no option but to call the people to the streets.”
He said that the objective of the public meeting is to ensure that the new government is led by the regional parties and a chief minister will be from the Khasi Hills region.
“We want to ensure that Conrad Sangma and anyone from the NPP should not become chief minister,” Synrem added.
When asked, the HYC leader said, “The demand for ILP is still hanging in the air because Conrad K Sangma is not taking the issue seriously. That is why we wanted the regional parties to lead the government so that the aspirations of the Hynniewtrep people can be understood better. The NPP will not understand as it is a national party and their objective is to expand their party all over India by fighting the elections in other states. Therefore, we want a chief minister from the regional parties so that issues of our people can be taken up seriously.”