Implementation of Lum Pongdeng project among 10 demands
Shillong, Aug 6: The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) on Thursday took out a protest march towards Meghalaya Secretariat in a bid to draw the government’s attention to its 10 key demands.
The VPP’s key demands include implementation of the Lum Pongdeng project along with release of a white paper, independent examination of recruitments made through the DSC, MPSC and other recruitment agencies, stronger protection of indigenous rights, legislation to regulate migration and identify the indigenous population, restoration of the rights of street vendors, recognition of traditional village heads and their councils, stricter regulation of coke and cement industries, protection of rivers and other water bodies, end to sand and stone extraction and dumping of waste into water sources and decisive action against illegal coal mining, transportation and the syndicates.
Significantly, the protest comes just weeks before the Autumn Session of the state Assembly scheduled from August 24 to August 28.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had earlier questioned the need for a street protest when the Opposition could bring the matter to the floor of the Assembly for a debate just a few days later.
As the government is open to discussion, he said, the Legislature is the appropriate democratic forum for elected representatives to pursue such matters.
Meanwhile, many in the protest march were seemed unrelated with the cause of the march as they even shouted slogans against the VPP, the organiser of the protest, while saying “Down Down” for the ruling coalition parties.
The turnout, although sizeable, fell well short of the party’s claim last week that more than one lakh people would participate in the march.
