Ampareen calls out HNLC’s communal mindset

Shillong, Dec 6: NPP leader and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Thursday asked the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to join the political arena and give its opinion instead of issuing diktats from the jungle.

She was reacting to a recent allegation made by the HNLC that the NPP is becoming an instrument of Garo domination while putting forward its three demands which include a rotational chief minister system to ensure equitable leadership among all communities of Meghalaya.

“I will not listen to some diktats coming from the jungle. No, you come forward and talk to us,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

“Please contest elections. Be in a position when you give your opinions. I mean what is this diktat? I don’t understand what they mean. I have not seen the statement myself but you cannot continue to be a bogus player again and again,” she said.

The minister also added, “Come to the field, nothing stops you from contesting any elections or are you in cohort with some party. Which is this political party that you are supporting? Let us know. May as well tell the people straight then that X,Y,Z group wants to be in combination with X,Y,Z party.”

Stating that the NPP’s strength has increased to 32 in the 60-member House, Lyngdoh said, “…you need the numbers in the Assembly, I mean without the numbers who is saying what? Right now, we are in a good number. People are forgetting that we have one MLA from the West, one MLA from Ri Bhoi, are people forgetting that this has happened. NPP is now at 32, so we are no longer Khasis? I mean what is this nonsense.”

Appealing to refrain from infusing such communal mindset, Lyngdoh said, “Do not infuse this communal mindset. We have to unite to fight collectively against the oppressor. Do not oppress us and divide us further. I am confident, the NPP is a pan Meghalaya party, pan religion. We have no favourite or we do not favour any religious organizations. We serve the people of the state of Meghalaya. We will respect all religions. We will respect all communities. We have one agenda in common. Let’s fight this, strengthen ourselves and have a firm voice with the government of India so they start listening to what our needs are. That is what we need.”

“You cannot have a proxy election from some distant location. You have to file a nomination and come to the field and fight an election then only you will be in position to talk. I think you have seen all dialogues across the world. Nobody goes from some remote location and diktats on anyone.”

“Those diktats always have resulted negatively; wars have been fought because of those conflicts. Are we forgetting what is happening in Manipur? Our own neighbour. Do you want to see something like that? I don’t think this is a positive way forward,” she added.

Also referring to the people of Meghalaya as trendsetters, the minister said, “Coalition politics first started in the state of Meghalaya as early as 1974. Don’t forget that. We are maestros. I just hope we are able to work when the elections are over. We have to be able to leave our political affiliation aside. What is my CM saying? CM leaves one message for the people of Meghalaya, we will not favour but we will be inclusive. You go and find out if not 80% of schemes that CM is serving to the people of the state, are they all supporters of NPP, go find out, do your homework. He is a very balanced individual and it doesn’t matter, we are Meghalayans first.”

“I am proud to be from the state of Meghalaya. I honour being a Khasi but I am proud to be a Meghalayan and I will first fight for the people of my state,” she stated further.

Read: West Jaintia Hills hosts ‘Buyer-Seller Meet’ to promote local farmers’ products

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub