MEGHALAYA Chief Minister D.D.Lapang is in the eye of a storm. He wants to ban bandhs which have become endemic in Meghalaya. Social and human rights activists are up in arms against the move. The Coordination Committee to Protest the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous District) (Amendment) 2003, an umbrella body of over 15 organisations, spearheading the agitation, was of the view that the apex court ruling was meant for government employees and trade unions.

“The situation there and in Meghalaya is very different. The Lapang government wants to take refuge under Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court verdicts to ban bandhs and hartals; this is not justified,” Dino Dympep, Chairman, Human Rights Council, and Convenor of  the Coordination Committee. “The particular Supreme Court verdict is actually meant for government employees and trade unions and not to suppress the voice of the common people and curtail their rights,” he said.

The Lapang Cabinet decided on Aug 20 to declare bandhs illegal and punish the ‘practioners’ of bandhs with a two year jail term and a fine Rs 5000. Its motive was ‘safeguarding’ the interests of daily wage-earners. It also decided to promulgate an ordinance for the purpose. The move has touched off discord in the ruling alliance. The very next day Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh said he had abstained from the cabinet meeting. He is the President of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), a key ally of the MDA government. He said his party did not approve of the bandh ban move. KHNAM is the political wing of formidable Khasi Students Union (KSU). It has, however, stopped short of pulling out of the alliance. Annoyed by the coalition partner’s dissention, Lapang made it clear that a cabinet decision was binding on all alliance partners. Both Lapang and Home minister R G Lyngdoh tried to make the anti-ordinance lobby see reason. But failed, at least, so far. The coordination committee has urged Governor M M Jacob not to promulgate the ordinance. Sensing that the agitators were not in a mood to relent, the main opposition, the NCP is also gearing itself to corner the ruling party. Lapang has clarified that his government is open to discussion. “Although the ordinance is yet to get the governor’s approval and has to be tabled in the assembly, our doors are open for any suggestion from any quarter,” he said. The Chief Minister said any ‘justified adjustment’ would be accepted, but warned agitators not to cross the limit, which would invite legal action.

| Meghalaya | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |