Shillong, Jan 28: Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, on Friday said miscreants are taking advantage of the alleged delay of the state government to come up with effective laws to protect the indigenous people.

“The past as well as the present government do not take much care to bring strong laws to protect the indigenous tribal people. (This situation is being taken) advantage of by miscreants,” Nongrum told reporters.

He urged the government to bring back the spirit of brotherhood among citizens of the state irrespective of which community they belong.

His statement came in the wake of the recent assault incidents on non-tribal people in Lumdiengjri and Jaiaw areas in the city.

The legislator, however, expressed reservation against the decision of one SK Choudhury and his wife to refer to the recent incidents with the year 1979 during a hunger strike protest against atrocities on non-tribal at Khyndailad.

“It is good in one way as it is a democratic state and it is a democratic country, but the saddest part is that they give a reference of 1979 which is highly objectionable and highly questionable,” he said while asserting “We should be careful in making any statement as it may later bring communal clash  or communal conflict.”

He also urged the people to remember that the state is known to be peace loving and a paradise state.

On the other hand, Nongrum said that he would participate in the signature campaign called by a student demanding the state government to review the job reservation policy to ensure equal distribution among the three tribes of the state.

Stating that the policy has become outdated, the MLA said it is high time that the government should consider reviewing the reservation policy in order to give hope to the present as well as the future generation of the state.