KSU stages protest, demand renaming of road after hill state leader

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 13, 2020

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Saturday staged a protest infront of the residence of BJP legislator from South Shillong Sanbor Shullai for renaming a road in Kenches Trace after a former MLA allegedly without any consultation.

Activists of the KSU Laban Circle led by its president Manly Nongpluh and general secretary Reuben Najiar also displayed placards demanding that the road be renamed after a leader of the hill state movement and former deputy chief minister (L) Hoping Stone Lyngdoh.

During the protest, activists were also seen adhering to protocols for preventing COVID-19 infection like wearing of mask, gloves and social distancing.

“We vehemently oppose the decision taken by you (Shullai) and the Naming Authority Committee (constituted by the state government) to rename the zig-zag road to Ardhendhu Choudhuri road,” Nongpluh said in a letter submitted to the Shullai.

(L) Choudhuri was a former MLA of the area.

The NGO leader alleged that the decision was taken without obtaining the No-objection certificate (NOC) from the dorbar shnong of Kenches Trace, Oxford, Rilbong (KOR).

“…nor were they (dorbar shnong) made aware or consulted of such proposal to change the name from its very inception,” he stated in the letter.

He also maintained that the union has no adverse or ill feeling against (L) Choudhuri, the former MLA.

Nongpluh said the union demands that the road be renamed after Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, a leader and politician of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, who needs no introduction.

Earlier, the executive committee of the dorbar shnong has proposed to rename the road after the former headman (L) Dapstarlin Mawlong, who had served the locality for 25 years.