Meghalaya BJP urges HNLC not to ditch peace talks

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today appealed to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the tripartite peace talks with the Centre and State government for lasting peace to prevail in the state of Meghalaya.

Addressing the media, BJP national vice president and Meghalaya in charge Dr Chuba Ao said, “We appeal to our militant organization to come forward and join the mainstream and attain peace.”

Party state president Rikman G Momin said, “We need peace so we will request HNLC to come forward to have peace talks with the State or Central government directly.”

He however refused to comment on whether amnesty should be given to the leaders and cadres of the banned Khasi outfit.

Chief spokesperson and former IPS officer M Kharkrang said the party is surprised at the HNLC’s sudden decision to withdraw itself from the peace talks with the government. According to him, it is not possible for the government at one stroke of a pen to drop all cases against the leaders and cadres of the outfit.

“If you have seen the statement the main agenda of the HNLC is to drop all cases against the leaders and cadres of the outfit. I feel they should have waited as it is not easy for the government to just drop these cases especially if cases have been charge-sheeted and are being tried in the courts as once cases are being charge-sheeted, it totally depends on the court. To say that the government at one stroke of a pen to drop all cases is not possible,” he said.

“At the same time, we also have to think about those victims of such cases, they may be your families or relatives, now if the government just to appease one side, drops all cases, what justice will you give to the victims of criminal cases,” he added.

Kharkhrang said it was a hasty decision on the part of the HNLC to withdraw from the peace talks adding “They should have given the peace talks a chance.”

The former IPS officer said, “We are appealing to the HNLC to continue with the peace process and in a given situation, it is a give and take, you cannot make demands and expect all the demands to be met by the government. You have to look at the larger picture, not that just because one issue has not been settled it doesn’t mean you pull yourself out of the peace talks.”

On the HNLC’s apprehension that its top leaders will get arrested once they come overground, Kharkrang however said that the outfit has to believe the government because a safe passage is a safe passage

“If the government has agreed to give them a safe passage, you see the government doesn’t work like that, once they have given in writing that they are giving them a safe passage it is a safe passage so I don’t think so there is any trust deficit in that, the government cannot fool people like that so they have to believe the government,” he said.

Referring to the recent death threat issued by HNLC to Sohra legislator Gavin M Mylliem over the downfall of the MCCL, Kharkrang said, “Personally, I would say that it was uncalled for. You cannot for the ills which have taken place on the company for the last 30-40 years, now you cannot put the blame solely on the sitting MLA. I think it was uncalled for.”

Meghalaya BJP targeting 400 seats in LS polls

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: BJP national vice president and Meghalaya Incharge Dr M Chuba Ao today said the party’s target is to get 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After chairing a meeting to review the election preparation of the party in Meghalaya, Ao said, “Our target is to get 400 seats this time. Therefore, we will have to go everywhere where we did not get (last time), we will try our level best to reach them.”

Stating that the party’s progress report is very encouraging, he said, “We believe we will achieve it and it is our mission today.”

Ao said there are some weak seats and some seats are regional centric but the party will try to improve (its performance in such seats).

“Last two elections we have seen it was not so much fruitful but this time we are going to do in such a way that people will understand what is going on at the national level, how they give us facilities and all these things so we will reach to the grassroot level this time,” he added.

The BJP leader said that the party will fight the LS polls on its own adding “We are not going to compromise with any other political parties. We will build up our strength, why should we give a chance to others. Therefore, we have decided to fight on our own. There will be no seat sharing basis.”

Ao said that the BJP is quite strong in both Shillong and Tura parliament seats in Meghalaya.

“Actually both are strong seats, only we could not channelize. We are also taking the responsibility that we could not reach the grassroots level,” he said.

Whether the party has decided on the candidates for the two seats, the Meghalaya charge said, “We will work first and after that, this matter will be discussed with the state team and it will go to the national team then we will sit together with the prime minister and home minister together then we will allot the ticket.”

He said that many people have approached the party for tickets but one has to be acceptable by the people.  

On the party to field its Pynthorumkhrah legislator and cabinet minister AL Hek from Shillong constituency, Ao said, “I have seen in the media but I have not interacted with him so what is his opinion as we have to take the opinion and consideration of all the candidates as we cannot simply write in the paper, we need to interact one to one.”

He however maintained that the party will select candidates from among the members of the party.

“Women reservation is our agenda. We will see because the name is a reservation for women candidates but if women are not accepted by their own constituency the problem will come because we are fighting to win that is why we have to select for the best,” he added.

Science and Commerce college, Mawphlang nears completion

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: The physical progress of the construction of the science and commerce college at Mawphlang is 72 per cent.

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma in his reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday informed that the project was sanctioned at Rs 36.55 crore on June 30, 2017, out of which Rs 14.815 crore has been spent so far.

He said that the stipulated date for completion of the project is March next year.

He said that the classes will commence in this college after the completion of the construction of buildings and on completion of academic procedures.

State has over 510 dilapidated LP, Secondary schools

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Over 510 lower primary and secondary schools across the State are in a dilapidated condition.

This was informed by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma in his reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.

Out of this, 495 are government lower primary schools and 15 are government secondary schools, Sangma said.

He said the 43 schools are covered for construction/renovation under phase 1, 20 – phase 2 and 332 – phase 3.

He said that the remaining 115 schools will be proposed for construction/renovation in the future phases.

Scuffle between NEHU students not communal

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) today said the recent scuffle among students residing in the hostel was in no way related to communal issues.

The Monday night incident, which involved a verbal altercation and physical confrontation among students residing in the hostel, was related to disagreements regarding the rules and regulations governing hostel life.

Immediate action was taken to diffuse the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of all students involved.

The Dean of Students Welfare, the Warden of Hostel 19 and the University’s Security Officer promptly arrived at the scene to pacify the situation and maintain order.

Furthermore, local law enforcement was notified of the incident, and they promptly arrived on the NEHU premises to assess the situation and assist in maintaining peace and order.

The NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof PS Shukla today convened a high-level meeting to address the incident comprehensively. The meeting was attended Registrar, the Dean of Students Welfare, Proctor, Security Officer, and the Warden of Hostel No. 19.

“The purpose of this meeting was to thoroughly discuss the matter and ensure that due disciplinary actions are taken in accordance with the rules and regulations of the University,” NEHU PRO Dr Davidson Pyngrope said in a statement.

“NEHU wishes to emphasize that the situation has been brought under control, and the incident was in no way related to communal issues, as falsely reported by various sources. The University remains committed to upholding a safe and inclusive environment for all students, and any breaches of conduct will be addressed with utmost seriousness and adherence to established protocols,” he said.

Meanwhile, NEHU urged all stakeholders, including staff, students, parents, and the general public, to rely on official statements and verified information provided by the University to avoid spreading baseless rumours or misinformation.

“The University remains dedicated to the holistic development and well-being of its student community and will continue to take all necessary steps to maintain a harmonious and conducive learning environment,” Prof Pyngrope said.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

Teachers unhappy with non-release of dues

The All Meghalaya Fourth Teachers Association Garo Hills Unit (AM4thTA GHU) has expressed unhappiness due to the non-release of their three–month salary.

The association said that the 4th teachers are yet to receive their salary for January to March 2023 and are facing lots of problems with their daily wages even going to school.

The association in its memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma and also to the DSEL officers too on March 17 had demanded regularization of 1521 fourth teachers services, equal salary at par with Adhoc Upper Primary School teachers and to ensure regular disbursement of salary to teachers respective accounts and 5 per cent annual increment for Meghalaya 4th Teachers.

“If the MDA 2.0 government neglects the teachers’ salary then how will the teachers go to school with an empty stomach and empty pockets as they are without salary for three months? Therefore, the association requested the chief minister and education minister to look into the matter and ensure speedy release of our 3-month salary,” the president of the association Tengrang K Sangma said.

Meghalaya polls 2023: NPP leading in 23 seats

Shillong, March 2 (IANS) Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) is maintaining a lead in 23 seats as the counting of votes got underway on Thursday for the February 27 Meghalaya Assembly polls.

Compared to the two seats they won in the 2018 elections, the BJP is ahead in almost 10 seats, according to the early trends in counting.

While the Trinamool Congress is leading in 10 seats, the Congress party, which was the single largest party in Meghalaya in the last Assembly election, is trailing. The grand-old party is leading in only nine seats.

LIVE UPDATES: Meghalaya Assembly Election Results 2023

The other regional party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), has been projected to win six seats.

Notably, UDP was a part of the NPP-led government in Meghalaya for the last five years, although the party has not forged an alliance with the NPP and fought the election separately.