SHILLONG, DEC 23: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has warned Ardent M Basaiawmoit, president of the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP), to refrain from behaving like a “Blei Khyndew” (God of the earth).

The militant group’s general secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw, issued the statement on Monday, criticizing the VPP leader’s remarks condemning the HNLC’s interference with the functioning of the KHADC.

“The HNLC is firm in its stand on the failure of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to issue the sanad (appointment) to the Syiem of Hima Sohra because we know very well that the Acting Chief Mynjurlang Majaw is a party worker of the VPP (Prah). Therefore, Ardent should not pretend to be innocent and he should not behave like a ‘Blei Khyndew’ (or God of the earth),” Nongtraw said.

Responding to Basaiawmoit’s call for the outfit to refrain from interfering in KHADC affairs, Nongtraw asserted, “The outfit has every right to interfere with anything related to the rights of the indigenous community.”

He added a sharp rebuke, stating, “A true David never blows his own trumpet in front of the camera before going to the battlefield. If the situation demands, even a false David has to become a sacrificial goat.”

Nongtraw also announced that the HNLC will soon publish a book titled “The Blueprint of Hynńiewtrep”, which will address the two questions raised by Basaiawmoit.

He posed a rhetorical question to the VPP leader, “At the same time, I would also like to put a question to Ardent— as an indigenous community, does he want to become a tenant or a house owner?”