Shillong July 31: The Voice of the People Party will march to rhe Secretariat on August 6 for various issues.
VPP President Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit told reporters that it will be
a peaceful march to the Main Secretariat as a reminder to the state government that it can no longer ignore public anger, with the crisis in small-scale coal mining set to be one of the central issues.
The party’s objective was not confrontation, but to reflect the frustration building across Meghalaya.
“Our intention is not to create any law and order problem. We are going to have a peaceful march. We are not saying we are going to storm the main secretariat. There is a difference between storming and marching peacefully towards the secretariat.”
Basaiawmoit wanted Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to be present in Shillong on the day of the march so rhat he could see the number of people joining.
He appealed to citizens affected by government policies to participate, and cautioned that the VPP would not be held responsible for any trouble caused by elements trying to derail the programme.
The major demand the party will place before the government will be on coal.
Basaiawmoit said families who had depended on coal for generations have been left in distress since mining was halted. This government had made promises to the people regarding coal.
“Since the ban came, these poor people have been badly affected. What we are demanding is that the government allow the small-scale miners to work in coal mining, but with conditions. Especially the small coal miners and small coal traders are affected.”
He alleged a double standard in the sector, where small operators with limited land are kept out while the state facilitates large-scale mining. The same approach, he said, was visible in stone quarrying, with manual workers in places like Pynursla and Ri-Bhoi being pushed aside as big machines were given to wealthy contractors.
The VPP will also demand an immediate halt to coke and cement plants, which it says damage the environment and benefit only a few.
The march will also bring attention to other concerns.
Basaiawmoit spoke of teachers struggling to cope with MTET preparations while being posted on special intensive revision duties and other assignments. The party will oppose the reappointment of retired officials and call for stronger protection of community land, raid land and hima land amid what he termed large-scale destruction and repeated encroachments in border villages like Lapangap and Mawsikar.
According to Basaiawmoit, the government’s current approach shows a disregard for both people and environment.
“When we see these acts of oppression, the way the government is moving forward shows that the government does not care about our feelings,” he said. “The government must be accountable and must be made responsible for whatever action they are taking.”
He said the August 6 march is meant to send a strong message that the government cannot continue to act on whims and fancies, and expressed hope that it would prompt a serious and positive response from the administration.
