Association refutes allegations of money collection from non-tribal vendors
Shillong, July 8: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association (MGSPHSVA) has vouched for its leaders against allegations made by the outlawed HNCL against the latter.
The association rejected outright all accusations made by the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) against its leader Biolin Pyrtuh and Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) leader Angela Rangad that they have not stood for the rights of indigenous people and had run a “parallel economy.”
The association also denied allegations of collecting money from vendors, calling them “old rumours” intended to cause conflict and division.
“For over ten years, the association has worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of all street vendors are protected under the Constitution and adhere to the letter and spirit of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods and Regulation of Vending) Act, 2014.
The rights of the indigenous people are enshrined in the Constitution… To be an advocate for indigenous people does not mean the rejection of the rights of others,” association’s general secretary Shane Thabah said in a statement refuting the HNLC’s allegations.
The association has reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of all street vendors under the Constitution and the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods and Regulation of Vending) Act, 2014.
TUR and its leader Angela Rangad had been advocates for indigenous people’s rights, workers’ rights, women’s rights, and human rights in Meghalaya for decades.
“With TUR, Rangad has also been part of movements aimed at protecting the forests, rivers, and land of the Khasi Jaintia Hills, including struggles against uranium mining, unregulated and illegal coal mining, damming of rivers, and the loot of other natural resources,” the general secretary said.
The association has demanded that the HNLC substantiate its accusations and publish the findings of its “research cell.”
The association has also urged the police to take necessary steps to track down the source of malicious information aimed at creating chaos.
“The current attempt at disinformation regarding collection of money from non-tribal vendors is yet another attempt at the same,” Thabah said.
