SHILLONG, APR 1: The KSU alleged that eight non-indigenous people suspected to be Bangladeshis were issued notice by the East Khasi hills deputy commissioner to appear before the hearing for voter’s enrollment fixed for Thursday despite their applications being ‘rejected twice’ in recent years.
KSU made the allegation during a news conference on Wednesday and also informed that the union proposed protest march to the DC’s office by the three NGOs still stands.
Producing a copy of the notice issued on March 23 by the DC’s office before newsmen, chairman of KSU-Employment Cell Lambokstar Marngar said, “Eight non-indigenous persons from Lyngkhat village under Pynursla constituency were asked to appear before the hearing scheduled to be held in the DC’s office on April 2.”
Marngar informed that the applications of all the eight persons were rejected twice by the authority concerned earlier when they had applied for enrollment as voters in 2012 and 2013 as the dorbar shnong of Lyngkhat had raised objection during the hearings conducted in the village itself.”
Adding to this, KSU-Pynursla unit president Enocent Khongstia informed, “The sordar of Lyngkhat village had objected to their applications based on the fact that their credentials cannot be proved whether they are Indians or not.”
According to Khongstia, these people were allowed to settle in the village decades ago by the village so that they could help the Khasi villagers communicate with Bangladeshi for business activities, but they can never claim rights over the land nor participate in the affairs of the village.
Their originality is suspected to be Bangladesh, Khongstia added.
Marngar questioned the motive behind calling these people whose applications had been rejected by the authority concerned for hearing.
On Tuesday, while threatening to stage a showdown if hearing for voter’s enrollment takes place in the DC’s office on April 2, the ngos that includes the KSU, FKJGP and HNYF had also alleged “conspiracy” and “hidden agenda” behind the action of the DC in enrolling people which, according to them, don’t have valid documents.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal however denied having violated any government directive “not to hold hearings for voter enrollment only in his office”.
But Marngar alleged, that the deputy commissioner is trying to hide something and create confusion to the people by continuing to issue the notice to these alleged doubtful citizens.”
Marngar said that the stand of the three ngos to staged protest in the DC’s office remains as there is no communication from the district administration that the hearing is cancelled.
Forest minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also the local MLA of Pynursla, informed that the DC had assured him that the hearing slated for tomorrow has been cancelled and the procedure will be reverted back to usual one, which is holding of the hearings at the respective block and also villages. He said, the date however is yet to be fixed for the proposed hearing.
Marngar, however said if this is the case then it is the responsibility of the DC to come out with a clear statement informing that hearing has been cancelled.” According to him, as there is no such communication; the ngos will have to stick to the notice issued by the DC on March 23, by going ahead with the protest on Thursday.- By Our Reporter
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