Shillong,Oct 12: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has decided to honour the hill state leaders and volunteers of the party for their contribution in achieving statehood.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the central executive committee meeting on Tuesday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said the felicitation event will be held on November 10.
“As Meghalaya is all set to celebrate its 50th year of statehood next year, we feel it appropriate to felicitate the hill state leaders and volunteers of the party who fought bravely and dedicatedly to ensure Meghalaya attained its statehood as we cannot ignore their contributions,” he said.
Pangniang recalled that the HSPDP under the leadership of late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh had opposed the creation of an autonomous state and instead demanded a full-fledged state of Meghalaya.
“In 1970 when the then Prime Minister inaugurated the autonomous state of Meghalaya, thousands of volunteers with black flags raised their concerns as they needed a full-fledged state,” he said.
“Hundreds of members of the party were arrested and we have clear records that some of the volunteers arrested in Shillong, which was the then headquarters of Assam state, were jailed in Guwahati for a period ranging from three months to six months,” Pangiang said .
Hence, the party wanted to felicitate and salute them as they were real fighters for achieving statehood.
