Shillong, Aug 6: After the culmination of the VPP-led march to the secretariat, the party president Ardent Basaiawmoit said that the people took part in the march to the secretariat spontaneously.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday (Aug 6) after the march, Ardent said that no money was paid to the supporters to arrive. “We are happy that people arrived in large numbers despite today being a holiday”, he said.
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The march of the VPP to the secretariat was following many public meetings in parts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills starting from Motphran.
The march was held n a peaceful manner to protest against government’s failure to act on 10 key issues
He dismissed the Chief Minister’s suggestion to raise the issues in the Assembly.
The demonstration, held under tight police security, ended without any untoward incident.
Protesters marched with placards, shouting slogans against the MDA government and its leaders, including “Conrad K Sangma down down” and “Prestone Tynsong down down”.
Basaiawmoit said the party is encouraged by the turnout.
“We are happy to see the response of the people as far as this peaceful march is concerned,” he said.
The purpose was to send a clear message to the government.
“We are not happy with the style and functioning of the government on many issues and those issues have been highlighted from time to time. So we will now disperse from this peaceful march and we will wait for sometime on what will be the response of the government.”
The VPP has opted not to submit a fresh memorandum, Basaiawmoit said.
“No, we have decided as a party that we will not submit any memorandum because every time we have written to the government on many issues, it is unfortunate that the government never responded to us in writing or even called us for discussion,” he said.
“We don’t feel the need to submit a fresh memorandum or petition to the government on these issues which the government itself is aware of.”
On the crowd size, he replied, “I think it will be very difficult for me. I think you must have seen the crowd is huge, spontaneous especially on a working day like this.”
The CM’s remark that opposition parties should take up such matters inside the House drew a sharp response from Basaiawmoit.
He said time allocation in the Assembly heavily favours the ruling side. “I think you have been a witness to how time is allotted to the opposition members in the Assembly and how space is taken by the members belonging to the ruling parties. They in fact get more time than the members belonging to the opposition members so we hardly get enough and sufficient time to discuss various issues,” he said.
“We are not shying away from debating whether we lose or win in the debate; we are representing facts before the government. So I think that is just an excuse, maybe on the part of the government.”
Basaiawmoit said that VPP volunteers were told beforehand to keep the protest peaceful and avoid public inconvenience.
“Our supporters and our volunteers and all those who are supporting are made to understand that we will do anything that is peaceful and which is right. We do not have any intention to create any law and order problem, we do not have any intention to create public inconveniences,” he said.
He further accused the government of sidelining the opposition.
“You see these are the issues which in fact the government itself, it is the responsibilities of the government to deal with these issues. We are the opposition and we are raising issues concerning the state and the people. So if the government is really serious with all these issues they should call us and take us into confidence. But this government is quite vindictive especially when it comes to the opposition party where they even undermine and belittle the opposition and the status of the elected representatives. So, that is just an eye wash on the part of the government to fool the people again.”
Asked about the VPP’s next move, Basaiawmoit said the party leadership would deliberate and announce it later.
“We have yet to decide,” he said.
Earlier while addressing the crowd at the parking lot adjacent to the additional secretariat, Basaiawmoit accused the state government of ignoring people’s issues, from a flawed public hearing in Elaka Sustnga to delayed wages and alleged irregularities in recruitment.Responding to criticism that the VPP only creates unrest, Basaiawmoit said the large turnout on a working day showed the party was voicing real public problems.
“This gathering today is proof that we are not people who want to create chaos. We, as VPP leaders, have a firm foundation to stand and defend the rights of the indigenous people,” he said.
On the cement project in Sustnga, he claimed the recent public hearing did not allow affected residents to speak.
“This was a Public Hearing that did not allow those people who wanted to voice their opinions, the people who will be affected by the cement factory project,” he said.
The VPP has demanded that the hearing be cancelled and that the government halt both the Coke Plant and Cement Factory.
“If the government continues to be adamant, we will intensify the agitation further,” he warned.
Basaiawmoit also said the party has asked the Chief Secretary to scrap the DSC West Jaintia Hills exam after finding what he called sufficient evidence of malpractice.
“There are some people who appeared for the exam and just answered 1-2 questions, yet they were called for the Personal Interview… It is necessary to cancel the entire exam because there has been cheating and an attempt at forced recruitment,” he said.
He further criticised the condition of the Shillong-Dawki road in Riwar Pynursla, saying years of work on a multi-crore project had only brought hardship.
“You just want to inaugurate and cut ribbons. A road is supposed to bring comfort and convenience to the people, but instead it has brought hardship,” he said.
On the CM’s suggestion to raise issues in the Assembly, Basaiawmoit said opposition members get too little time.
“You call an Assembly for 5 days with so many agenda items, and you give only 7-10 minutes to speak. If you say you are ready to give us ample time, we will raise all the problems in the Assembly,” he said.
He also flagged delayed payments to Home Guards and casual workers.
“The Home Guards get their salary once every 4 months… Those who work on contract and casual basis get paid once in 3 months. If the employment given to the youth means paying salaries only once in 3 months, there is no reason to be proud of your job creation,” Basaiawmoit said.
