ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Dec 23:

 

Intensifying its “No Vote, No Road” campaign, the disgruntled villagers of Kangku circle who after being ignored for decades refused to take part in the electoral process of 28-Likabali Assembly polls on Saturday has threatened to surrender their Voter Identification Cards en masse as next phase of its agitation, if the state government failed to address their demand for good road to the Circle, which they described as “beyond deplorable condition”.

Addressing a press conference, Galo Peoples Federation, Chairman, Nyadar Loya who is leading the campaign said that the decision to surrender the VIC was taken following the state government’s silence over their peaceful protest, which he claimed that started long back before the announcement of bye election of 28-Likabali Constituencies assembly. The seat was left vacant after former health minister Jomde Kena died in September this year.

Over report that out of 9 polling stations under the Circle , few people voted in 4 polling stations, Loya alleged that the people who voted were pressurized to cast their votes by political leaders, bureaucrats etc.

He however clarified that it’s upon the people of the Circle to decide if they will cast their vote as the Committee never forced anyone but only sought their support and cooperation for the movement.

Asserting that the Committee still has full support of thousands of voters, Loya while clarifying that there is no political motive behind the campaign as speculated stated that “it is unfortunate that few are thinking that this movement is politically motivated.”

“There is a misconception among people that this movement was started with a political interest,” Loya said while clarifying that the sole motive of the campaign was only to draw the attention of government towards the plight of the Galo people living in about 24 villages, who have been neglected by the government in terms of road connectivity and other developmental activities since last 40 years.

Loya added that government should conduct the election during the rainy season, and then only they might understand the plight and sufferings of the neglected people of Kangku area.

Dajo Ngomle, the general secretary of a local NGO called Dolok Banggo said “We have decided to surrender our voter ID cards in protest against the callous attitude of both the state and central government towards our peaceful protest.

"We don’t want to cast vote anymore for any political party who never cared for us," said Ngomle while informing that they have already submitted various letters to the Election Commission of India, CM, and Prime Minister informing of the same, but received no sign from them to resolve their grievances.

Asserting that every development starts with good road connectivity, Ngomle alleged that people of Kangku circle have only been used by politicians during elections.

After elections no elected leader  ever took care of their demand for a good road , he said adding road is needed for further development of the area at par with other districts.

 

He also alleged that successive governments including whom they elected as their representatives betrayed them with false promises during their election campaign and stated that people are tired of false promises of political leaders  and they don’t want to cast vote anymore for any political party that has no respect for people’s sentiments.

 “Even MoS Kiren Rijiju, who came here seeking our votes promised us that if we will cast votes and he wins, then he will surely look upon our grievances and build a good road for us,” Loya added.

 “After Rijiju won the MP election, despite several invitation to visit Kangku Circle on several occasions, he has turned down our requests and never visited us to hear out our pleas.”

 “This is just the beginning and we will continue our struggle till our demands are met,” affirmed the committee adding that they would change their mind only if their demands for good road were fulfilled by the government.

Confronted with various developmental deficiencies, the Kangku Circle containing about 24 villages bordering Assam is struggling to cope with other developing areas in the state and facing lots of atrocities from Assam over boundary related issues.

Village residents have been demanding construction of a 65 kilometre stretch of road to connect Kangku Circle with the rest of the state and country, due to which they are facing untold problems. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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