Linguistic minority forum demands restoration of statues of national heroes

Shillong, Aug 21: The Meghalaya Linguistic Minority Development Forum (MLMDF), representing the state’s linguistic minorities, has condemned the  violence, intimidation, vandalism, and
appalling desecration of national icons in Shillong.

It wanted a ceremonial restoration of the busts.

In a statement, MLMDF said it explicitly affirms that peaceful, disciplined
dissent is a sacred democratic right capable of solving socio-political issues, healing old wounds, and addressing concerns that violence compromises.

“However, weaponizing demonstrations into faceless mob violence, lawlessness, and public harassment fatally undermines governance and civil society.
Permitted rallies repeatedly devolve into widespread fear psychosis. Despite official SOPs on paper, masked, helmet-less riders on un-plated two-wheelers bypass checkpoints unchecked, enabling mobs to rampage through residential pockets and commercial hubs. Innocent citizens, local non-tribals, workers,
tourists, and young mothers in city buses forced to duck as mobs stone vehicles carrying women and children bear the brunt of this unrest, it said

Beyond local damage, desecrated national icons and rampant mob
violence spark national and global headlines that defame an entire peace-loving community for the misdeeds of a few fear-mongers. This inaction creates severe anxiety and security threats for Meghalaya’s youth studying and working in distant states. Establishing true accountability requires progressive, preventive policing to halt masked individuals at the threshold rather than relying solely on post-incident measures. Toothless rules without enforcement foster distrust and bring widespread negativity to economy and people, the minority body said.
To safeguard the peaceful nature of  state, ensure governance does not take a back seat, and protect every resident and guest from suffering,  the MLMDF has officially initiated three major interventions:

1. Memorandum of letter petition in the High Court of Meghalaya

MLMDF has filed a formal letter petition before the Chief Justice. The PIL seeks mandatory court-ordered SOPs, an absolute ban on identity-concealing face masks during rallies, strict pre-entry
impounding of unregistered vehicles under the Motor Vehicles Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, high-definition drone surveillance along protest routes and an independent inquiry into police
operational lapses.

2.  Representation to the Deputy Commissioner.

MLMDF submitted an urgent
petition calling on Deputy Commissioner Abilash Baronial  to stop routing public rallies through dense, multi-community residential neighborhoods.

The representation demands for
responsible policing, grievance redressal mechanisms , enforcement of SOPs strictly and punishing the culprits.

3. Memorandum to the Governor, Chief Minister and Deputy
Commissioner.

The memorandum addresses the desecration of the busts of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda in R.R. Colony.

MLMDF demanded  a time-bound, senior-officer-led investigation and most importantly a state-sponsored ceremonial restoration of the busts of Netaji
Subash Bose to signal that symbols of national pride cannot be diminished by criminal intimidation and will be upheld by the people of Meghalaya.

Online petition to Amit Shah and Conrad Sangma.

The petitions are  for improving the status quo of conflict and problems to two neighboring states and addressing current pressing issue. The link to the petition is https://c.org/
8tj6Z7LQYy
“Meghalaya is our shared sanctuary and her people are our brethren. The MLMDF places its confidence in the High Court and the state administration to take action for the greater public good. An
accountable administration and a responsible citizenry are the twin pillars of a just society”, it said.