Meghalaya: ACHIK hunger strike enters day 8, protesters demand CM’s visit and assurances

Biplab Dey

The A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) protest in West Garo Hills entered the eighth day today. The protesters demanded that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and cabinet ministers visit them and address their concerns.

Citing neglect and discrimination by the government, the demonstrators said that they will continue their protest until their demands are met.

The ACHIK protesters recently had a meeting with Jagdish Chelani, the district commissioner of West Garo Hills, who attempted to persuade them to discontinue their protest but failed.

The protesters firmly expressed their stance, highlighting the necessity for concrete actions from the government. They have specifically requested Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s visit and the resolution of two key issues: designating Tura as the winter capital and implementing the Job Reservation Policy (JRP) retrospectively.

Speaking to Northeast Live, the general secretary of ACHIK, Bernita Marak, emphasised the lack of medical assistance provided during the protest. Marak drew attention to a previous similar protest by VPP President Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit that received attention from cabinet ministers and medical aid within three days, whereas the ACHIK protesters claim to have been disregarded entirely, intensifying their sense of being treated unfairly.

“It has been eight days and there has been no medical assistance given, but some days earlier the same protest had been down on the same issue, but they were reached out within three days and some of the cabinet ministers came to visit, but here in our case, we are totally discriminated”, said Bernita Marak.

The advisor of ACHIK, Laben Ch Marak, spoke to Northeast Live, asserting that they will not vacate the protest site until the government provides assurances or takes action to address their demands. The district commissioner’s claim that the protest is illegal due to the absence of permission has been dismissed by the group, citing the Supreme Court’s recognition of the right to peaceful protest.

“We have not violated any law; we are just showing our protest and our disagreement, and it is not against any written law”, added Laben Ch Marak.

On July 17, the situation at the site of the hunger strike turned grim as the Co-Chairman of the GSMC, Balkarin Ch Marak fell ill and collapsed due to fatigue and lack of food.

Also Read : Meghalaya: GSMC leader collapses during hunger strike