SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government has pledged to fully finance the restoration of the vandalised bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the statue of Swami Vivekananda in Shillong, following recent unrest in the city.
Nongthymmai MLA and Meghalaya Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Charles Pyngrope confirmed that the State Art and Culture Department will cover all costs for repairing both monuments.
Pyngrope said administrative discussions are ongoing and he is coordinating with the R&R Colony society to oversee the restoration.
Stressing the national and international significance of Netaji and Vivekananda, he emphasized the importance of promptly restoring the monuments.
ALSO READ: ‘Protest Is Not Permission for Violence’: DC Condemns Arson, Assault During Shillong Rally
While condemning the acts of vandalism, Pyngrope also pointed to administrative lapses and unresolved grievances—specifically the unaddressed charter of demands from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU)—that preceded the unrest.
He clarified, however, that grievances do not justify lawlessness or destruction.
On law enforcement’s response, Pyngrope urged authorities to focus on apprehending the actual perpetrators, cautioning against indiscriminate arrests and emphasizing that legal action should be based on proper identification of those responsible.
(4FrontMedia news)
