SHILLONG, NOV 7: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) against Shillong Ropeway Project on Saturday intensified its indefinite sit-in demonstration, demanding that the Meghalaya Government relocate the proposed ropeway project from Lum Shyllong to another suitable location.
On the second day of the protest, JAC Executive Member Anita Kharmawphlang warned that the agitation could escalate into a demand for the resignation of Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh if the government refuses to shift the project.
“You must relocate the ropeway or you will force us to demand that the Tourism Minister must resign,” Kharmawphlang said while speaking to media persons.
She said elderly residents, including those aged 60, 70 and even 80 years, were determined to continue participating in the protest despite objections from their family members.
“There are many elderly people here who are 60-70-80 years old. They do not want to go home but want to sit and protest with us here,” she said.
Kharmawphlang warned that the government would have to take responsibility if anything happened to the elderly protesters, some of whom were reportedly refusing to return home despite their children’s concerns.
She urged the authorities to consider the safety and well-being of the senior citizens participating in the indefinite agitation.
On arrangements for night stays, she said the committee would inform the public through the media, while people from different villages would make their own arrangements to stay overnight as they wished.
“If the Government’s people have mothers, they should think carefully,” she remarked.
Accusing the government of maintaining silence over their demands, Kharmawphlang said no representative from the government had come forward to respond to the protesters.
“Till now, the Government is silent, it has not responded, no one has come forward at all,” she said.
She also criticised Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh for being abroad, alleging that his visit was being undertaken using public funds.
Despite the government’s silence, Kharmawphlang asserted that the protesters would not withdraw their agitation and were prepared to continue their struggle.
“We also stand firm that we will move forward, we will not stop, we will even give our lives, we will not step back at all,” she declared.
Reiterating the committee’s position, she said the JAC wanted the ropeway project shifted to another location and strongly opposed its proposed site at Lum Shyllong.
“We demand from the Government to relocate the ropeway to some other place, not at Lum Shyllong. They have chosen a totally wrong place,” she said.