SHILLONG:
The North East Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (NEIPF), Shillong Chapter, has opposed the proposed change of the country’s name from India to Bharat.
The NEIPF spokesperson, Dundee Cliff Khongsit, said that the forum feels that “Bharat” is a Sanskrit word which is linked to Hindu belief.
“We feel that this is only an attempt to overwhelm those of other faiths in the country,” Khongsit.
According to the NEIPF spokesperson, India is a country of diverse culture and different faiths, and it believes that changing the country’s name to Bharat will affect the uniqueness of India.
He also said that the forum has also resolved to oppose the proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state as well as the North East.
Khongsit said that this move of the Centre will affect the culture and tradition of the indigenous people of the region.
“If implemented, a time will come when we will not feel we belong in the country,” the NEIPF spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the NEIPF Shillong Chapter also said that it has discussed at length about the drug menace in the state and resolved to demand from the government to implement the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, (PIT- NDPS) Act 1988.
Khongsit also said that the NEIPF demands the setting up of the full-fledged Anti Narcitics Task Force (ANTF) in the lines of ka SB, CID in the state, to be headed by an officer in the rank of Inspector General (IG).
He said that the state also has the ANTF in every district of the state headed by the Superintendents of Police (SPs), but the state needs the full-fledged ANTF which will be oversee from the headquarters of the Meghalaya Police.
The NEIPF Shillong Chapter consists of various pressure groups of the state like the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front and Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation.
Moreover, the NEIPF Shillong Chapter elected its new office-bearers on Monday consisting of chairman Wellbirth Rani, vice-chairmen Bipul Thangkhiew and Kitboklang Nongphlang, general secretary Sadon K Blah, assistant general secretaries, Eldie Newton Lyngdoh and Augustine Sten, joint general secretaries Wanpher Wahlang and Shanbor Rapsang and spokesperson Dundee C Khongsit.