NGOs slam Meghalaya Dy.CM for failing to fulfill “election promises”

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 24, 2020

SHILLONG: The Riwar Mihngi Circle of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and the Riwar Mihngi Development Council (RMDC) has slammed the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong for allegedly failing to fulfill his promises made to the people of Pynursla during election time.

The two organizations have also threatened to resort to agitations if the deputy chief minister, who is also Pynursla MLA, does not address the issues concerning the constituency within a month’s time.

“We will be compelled to take out agitational programmes against the deputy chief minister, if there is no positive response within one month,” HYC-RMC president Edmund Khongngai  told reporters at a news conference held here on Friday.

Khongngai alleged that the MLA has failed to ensure setting up of border haats at Lyngkhat and Hat Thymmai despite assuring the people since 2013.

“Due to this delay, illegal trading is being carried out between the local people and people from Bangladesh. It is also of great concern that our people are encouraging Bangladeshi nationals to illegally crossover to Meghalaya and this is a dangerous trend,” he said.

Referring to the recent attacks by Bangladeshi criminals on people living in the border, Khongngai said, “This is because the infiltrators are well verse about our places and now they even dare to commit crimes against the border residents.”

Asked, Khongngai said that setting up of the border haats would to some extend help curbing infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals into the state’s territory and people from both sides will be benefited as well. “Therefore, we demand that the border haats be set up at the earliest,”he added.

The two organizations have also reminded the deputy chief minister on the other promises which include construction of residential schools, setting up of two police outposts at Nongshken and Pyrdiwah areas, setting up of Riwar Mihngi College and improving of health care facilities.

“We urge the deputy chief minister not to politicize such issues which are of public importance and start taking necessary action to fulfill the aspiration of the people of the area,” Khongngai said.