Shillong, Sept 03: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization is aghast at the manner in which the MDA government is trying to suppress the rights of the people to voice their opinion on various issues.
The HITO said that they have seen this time and again when the law is subverted by the district administrations on numerous occasions. It seems odd that the benchmark for a violation various from incident to incident.
HITO draw the attention of the people towards the recent notice served to the organizers of the gathering at Mawlai to protest the killing of surrendered HNLC leader Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew besides the thousands that attended his funeral.
HITO was surprised, the district administration has issued prompt show cause notices to several selective individuals and groups only. For example, no legislator who attended the funeral was questioned neither score of pressure groups leaders which attended the funeral and the protest rally.
In fact, even the undersigned and their members were present at the funeral to pay our respects to the departed soul, but no action has been initiated against them.
Similarly, way back on April 29, 2006, the then Chief Executive Member of the KHADC (L) HS Shylla had through a senior advocate had served a notice to (L) Hopingstone Lyngdoh the then legislator from Nongstoin, the then KSU President Samuel Jyrwa, Langrin Youth Welfare Association and John F Kharshiing for organizing public opinion against uranium mining in the state.
The President of HITO said that they wonder if the swift action was in response to a complaints from any quarter or was it based on media reports and social media. Notwithstanding that, the question here is, if in the past, prompt and strict action was initiated against violators, then why is it that now.
The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner is sitting on a complaint of blatant gross violation of Covid protocols and SOPs by the BJP which organized a booth level meeting of 19-South Shillong Legislative Assembly at Assam Club in Laban on July 31.
The meeting had BJP national general secretary, Arun Singh and MP Rajya Sabha and Ajay Janwal, BJP NE General Secretary (ORG) amongst other senior party functionaries in ample attendance.
Does this mean that the government suppressed the DC by issuing an order through the Home (Political) Department letter No. POL.62/2003/Pt.II/47 dated July 29th, 2021 by granting permission?
Why is the DC silent on this despite a formal complaint being lodged by HITO against the DC and SP for allowing the political event which had no relation to Covid-19 management or relief measures etc.?
HITO takes strong exception to this step motherly attitude of the district administration in responding to complaints and asks the district administration to take immediate and effective steps to address our complaint on the said violation, otherwise it would only indicate clearly that the district administration is merely a tool of the anti-people government of the day, said Mr.Donbok Dkhar President HITO.
