“We are not illegal encroachers”, says Shillong’s Harijan Panchayat Committee

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 23: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has said that the Harijans are historical residents of Meghalaya and not some illegal encroachers.

Reacting to the statement of the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong in response to their letter to the authorities regarding the proposed relocation plan of Sikh residents of Sweepers’ Colony, HPC secretary Gurjit Singh said, “It is a very casual and callous response and I am surprised that the Deputy Chief Minister of a state should resort to stating facts in an incorrect manner.”

“We are always ready for talks and as mentioned in our earlier reply and it is a position which we have stated many times to the government and to the High Court of Meghalaya. We have stated on many an occasion that the solution to this vexed problem can be only through talks in a spirit of give and take as well as in recognizing the rights of each and every citizen of the area, without pressure, duress and misrepresentation,” he added.

Singh said, “The Deputy CM is saying that “we will present details to the High Court.” I think, these details should have been presented earlier. The question that we have posed and to which the government has now reacted is “Why were details not presented earlier?”

Stating it is unbecoming of a leader of the state to misrepresent facts to the public through the media, the HPC secretary said that “the blueprint presented to us is incomplete, there is no time line, there are residents living there, the proposed homes are pigeonholes, the question of title to the area to be given to families has not been specified,” while asking “How can we play a blind game with the lives of hundreds of families -men, women and children.”

“It is another shocker that the Deputy CM, who had earlier recognized that we are not illegal settlers, is now saying, “How is it possible that they are staying there for 160 years?” May we remind the deputy Chief minister and the people of Meghalaya that we are here since 1863 and we are in possession of authentic documents under the name and seal of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem. In a letter of 2008, the Syiem of Mylliem Darbar has said, inter alia, “…the plot of land was allotted to them long time back by the predecessors of Syiem of Hima Mylliem till today.” In another 1954 document, it is categorically mentioned that the land belongs to the residents of the Harijan Colony,” Singh said.

He said also, there are many other historical references as to how our forefathers were brought here by the then British army higher-ups from Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts of Punjab.

“In fact, by virtue of the fact that we are here for more than two centuries, makes us also historical residents and by virtue of tradition and culture, we too become indigenous peoples,” said Gurjit Singh.
“By asking them for an appropriate accommodation, we are demanding our rights and not seeking a merciful largesse from the government. Let it be known to everyone, loud and clear that we are legitimate residents of the Punjabi Lane,” he further added.

Meghalaya TMC leader Mukul Sangma emphasizes on constructive role of 3 Opposition parties

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 9: TMC leader and former leader of the opposition Mukul Sangma said the three opposition parties have to synergize the overall mandate and collectively take issues which are confronting the people of the state.

Sangma told reporters that as far as the question of the leader of the opposition is concerned, it depends on how the Speaker determines because there are certain rules which need to be referred to.

He said at the same time there has been precedence during their time when the opposition was only 7 and there was a notification to that effect appointing a leader of the opposition.

“Remember late Dr Donkupar Roy between 2013 and 2018, he was LO. We notified him,” he said while adding “Let us expect that good sense prevails because at the end of the day, as I reasserted time and again, we must realize one thing that we are all under the constant scrutiny of the people whom we represent and therefore, our purpose is to be in sync with that whole trust and confidence with which people have elected us and given us the mandate.”

He asserted the need for all opposition parties to synergize their efforts collectively in the interest of the people and the state.

On VPP’s decision to maintain a separate identity in the opposition bench, Sangma said, “We have three different groups here – the TMC, INC and VPP. We have our own respective identities as far as political parties. So there is no question of diluting that. While saying so is the role of the opposition as we synchronize and synergize our effort collectively towards achieving our purpose, fulfilling our purpose that is what I am saying and that will enable us to be effective as opposition, constructive as opposition and deliver what is expected through this whole collective exercise that we do.”

“As we have said, we will always be reminded of the trust and confidence with which people have elected us and sent us with this mandate. Therefore, our role will always be guided by this conscience, the conscience which reminds us of our responsibility towards the larger good of the people and our responsibility towards protecting the interest of the state,” he added.

Sangma said that the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and the Indian National Congress (INC) will continue to meet on the matter. “It is just the beginning, have some patience,” he stated.