SHILLONG: The Voice of People Party (VPP), led by President Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, officially reignited a massive agitation against the NPP-led MDA 2.0 government.
Addressing a massive surge of supporters at Motphran in Shillong, Ardent announced a strategic “March to the Secretariat,” declaring that the party will now take its battle from local awareness meetings directly to the seat of power to demand accountability on eight critical issues affecting the indigenous community.
In a scathing critique of the state’s land policies, Ardent sounded a loud alarm over the government’s tendency to lease out land for 60 to 90 years. He characterized these long-term leases as a “virtual auctioning” of the state’s heritage and demanded an immediate reduction in lease durations.
He specifically targeted the proliferation of 5-star hotels, arguing that while such infrastructure exists, the government’s obsession with building them in every corner benefits only a select elite rather than the masses. He warned that the MDA government’s “hostile” attitude toward the indigenous people could trigger a wave of public anger similar to the recent unrest witnessed in the Garo Hills.
The VPP Chief turned his focus to the “systemic harassment” of teachers, slamming the government for forcing educators—even those nearing retirement—to repeatedly clear the MTET and other exams while simultaneously ordering them to pass all students regardless of performance.
He condemned the misuse of teachers for non-academic tasks like census and election duties despite their meager salaries and heavy workloads. Bah Ardent further exposed a looming financial crisis in the education sector, alleging that the government’s bankruptcy has led to a 50% slash in CPF benefits for retiring teachers. He denounced these moves as “anti-Khasi,” noting that as more local youth become highly qualified, the government is suspiciously moving to abolish sanctioned posts and UGC benefits for college faculty, effectively driving talent away from the profession.
Ardent also demanded a total overhaul of the MPSC and DSC. He accused these bodies of becoming “family employment exchanges” for those close to the ruling elite and demanded the immediate removal of any politically affiliated members from these recruitment boards. He vowed that the VPP would never allow the government to gamble with the future of Meghalaya’s youth through rigged appointments and “sham” pass percentages.
Shifting the focus to internal security, the VPP President expressed grave concern over the lack of data regarding illegal immigration. He unfavorably compared Meghalaya to Assam, noting that while the Assam government tracks the rise of illegal settlers with specific data, the Meghalaya government remains in the dark. He warned that as Assam intensifies its crackdown, illegal settlers will inevitably flood into Meghalaya unless a robust detection and deportation mechanism is established and excluded from the Census.
On the sensitive issue of tribal land rights, Ardent accused high-ranking officials in the Secretariat, along with certain traditional heads like Syiems, Sordars, and Rangbah Shnongs, of being complicit in the “horrifying” sale of Raid lands. Recalling his tenure as CEM when he protected Lawmawpat as a restricted forest, he lamented that these protections are being dismantled for profit. He issued a stern warning that a future VPP government would “unearth the roots” of these land scams and would not hesitate to strip traditional leaders of their powers if they are found guilty of betraying the community. He further alleged that the government is actively engineering social divisions, citing the “shady” approval of cement factories in Jaintia Hills and the sudden emergence of puppet organizations in Ri Bhoi as tactics to silence genuine public dissent.
Ardent asserted that while the government has managed to “buy off” various traditional leaders and community heads to suppress the people’s voice, it has failed to break the VPP. He emphasized that the party remains the last line of defense for border residents and the youth, pledging that the VPP will fight relentlessly until the government addresses the influx of illegal settlers and protects the dignity of the indigenous people.
