By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, MAR 17: Activists today staged a sit-in-demonstration in front of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to protest against the Congress led MUA-II government’s alleged delay in inaugurating the new Mawlai community and rural development block.
The surprise protest by around 30 members from the Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) Mawlai Circle and Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) Mawlai Circle took place just an hour before the session started.
Placards with different slogans were also displayed as soon as the official vehicle of chief minister Mukul Sangma entered the premises of the Assembly building besides other ruling and opposition legislators.
Speaking to reporters, HYC-central body leader Donboklang Kharlyngdoh said, “We strongly protest against the delay of this government to fulfill what was promised to the people of Mawlai in last year’s budget.”
He said despite Mawlai being one of the four newly created Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks announced by the state government last year, it was yet to be inaugurated till today.
Instead, two blocks at Sohiong, the constituency of the home minister were inaugurated first despite of the fact that the decision for their creation was taken much later, he added.
Demanding the state government not to politicize the issue, Kharlyngdoh said, “The C&RD Minister S Dhar is trying to play politics simply because Mawlai is being represented by a non-Congress MLA.”
“We also wanted to know whether any development announced by the government is only for areas which are being represented by Congress MLAs,” he said.
Referring to the assurance made by the chief minister that by April 1, all newly created blocks will be made operational, the HYC leader said, “We urge him to keep his words and ensure that April 1is not going to be an April Fool’s Day for the people of Mawlai.”
The NGOs further lambasted the local MLA Embhahlang Syiemlieh for his alleged failure to raise the issue in the ongoing session.
Kharlyngdoh said that the Director of C&RD in a joint inspection held recently at a plot of land proposed at Mawtawar had expressed that the place was found to be a suitable location for setting up of the C&RD office.
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