Shillong, Nov 25: It is our loss. That there was sporadic violence in the city. It is our loss. That there is illegal timber trade going on in the state. It is our loss. That the high and mighty are taking advantage to exploit natural resources and leaving the common man to struggle for livelihood and rights. It is our loss. That there is a ban on mobile internet at a time when examinations are on. It is our loss.
KAM Meghalaya candidate from South Shillong Angela Rangad aptly pointed out the hitches affecting daily life and the common man.
In a statement released on Friday, Rangad said, “The firing at Mukroh on 22.11.22 that claimed 6 lives and injured several others is bringing more losses.”
“Protests against the unacceptable firing have led to the destruction of public property and attack on other fellow citizens. This is wrong and unacceptable. Violence is not the answer to violence. Why did candlelight vigil attendees storm Civil Hospital shattering glass and chasing women police? Why were passers-by including the elderly targeted and beaten? These are acts of rowdy troublemakers who did not think of the patients nor the passers-by and all of us should condemn what happened last evening,” the statement added.
Rangad, who is also a social activist, questioned the timber trade that has been going on clandestinely in the state. “Those caught in the fire or trapped or prosecuted are always just the labourers who are trying to eke out a daily wage from such illicit trade. The nexus is protected while our forests are getting depleted; our rivers are polluted. The loss is ours,” she said.
Rangad also flagged the issue of price rise owing to an interruption to vehicles coming from Assam. She said this would only affect the common man as prices of essential commodities would shoot up.
