Bandh on voting day: HNLC

SHILLONG, FEB 19: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has declared a bandh on the voting day on February 23 in Meghalaya. The bandh will be of thirty-six hours beginning   from 6 pm on February 22 to 6 am on February 24.

In a statement released to the media on Tuesday HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said that the HNLC is boycotting the Meghalaya assembly election slated for February 23 and giving a bandh call to protest against the Indian political system as the organisation wanted the Indian government to clarify its stand as to why was the standstill agreement that was signed on the 9th of August 1947 terminated forcefully. And it pointed out that this was done just within six months instead of 2years which was agreed upon.

The HNLC also demanded that the government must immediately repatriate all foreigners who had been given the ‘status of refugees’ since 1971-72 and send back to Bangladesh from Meghalaya. The statement said that it is the responsibility of the Government of India to send them back because as it had given the lands of them “illegally or legally” against the wishes of the local population.

The HNLC statement also demanded immediate withdrawal of armed forces as well as the political machineries from the state. It pointed out that as per the declaration of the UNO the government of India must also recognize the right to self determination and self government of the hynñiewtrep and its people.

The statement said that before the India included the Hynniewtrep states, the Hynñiewtrep was an independent nation till it was force to sign the instrument of accession and annexed agreement in 1948.

The statement also warned that if the union government does not pay heed to its demands, the HNLC will continue to disrupt all elections including the Lok Sabha and urged the people to keep away from taking part in the voting. – By Our Reporter