Shillong, Feb 16: Congress candidate from Khliehriat Jhanika Siangshai on Thursday said people of East Jaintia Hills are having “bad days” due to the ban on coal mining. “Ever since the ban on coal mining was there, there have been only bad days for the people of East Jaintia Hills… everyone is dying and I have not seen the government is doing enough to resolve this ban,” Siangshai told reporters.

“I have seen people dying. Since the coal ban is there, we have lost everything in East Jaintia. From royal families we became the poorest of the poor,” she said.

The youngest woman candidate from the Congress said the ban on coal mining has also led to many dropouts among the youth of the area. “If coal mining reopens, it will open opportunities for each and every one. The main issue is the coal ban, if this is resolved everything will be okay,” she said.

When asked about her stand on scientific mining of coal, Siangshai said, “We can try that also but it should be at the earliest possible as if it is too late everything will be getting lost”, adding that illegal coal mining is going on.

The Congress candidate also said that she stands for women, youth and female sex workers. “We have so many female sex workers in our place so we want to get rid of this menace. We know that women need help and strength. Why they become female sex workers is due to joblessness and their children are roaming in the road. As a mother, as a sister, I want to be a candidate for those people,” she said while asserting the need to address the problem of drug menace that is affecting the youth of today.

When asked about her fight against big business tycoons, Siangshai said, “I will win their hearts with love and trust. With love, I can win the hearts of the people. Of course, love works more than money.”