Shillong, November 11: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) opposing the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project has strongly criticised South Shillong MLA and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai for allegedly walking out of a meeting of the South Shillong Advisory Committee within five minutes, accusing him of insulting residents who had gathered to express their concerns over the controversial project.
The meeting, chaired by Shullai, was attended by Rangbah Shnongs, representatives of Seng Samla and Seng Kynthei, and members of the JAC.
Speaking to reporters, JAC member Venetia Mawlong expressed disappointment over the abrupt conclusion of the meeting, claiming that the Minister’s actions had revealed his position on the ropeway project. “That sudden walkout shows which side he is on. Now, we in the JAC will not sit idle,” Mawlong said. She questioned why the MLA had convened the meeting if he was unwilling to listen to the concerns and opinions of the invited participants.
Referring to Shullai’s repeated emphasis on unity and the community being one family, Mawlong said his conduct during the meeting contradicted those sentiments. “You say we are one family. During Puja and Diwali, you come to our homes at midnight and that is fine, but here the meeting lasted only five minutes before it was closed. You should have listened to the public,” she said.
Mawlong maintained that as an elected representative, Shullai had a responsibility to listen to the grievances of the people, particularly on a matter that directly affected their localities. She further pointed out that several residents had made personal sacrifices to attend the meeting, including leaving behind their household responsibilities and children during the examination period. “As a representative, you should speak to us and listen to us. Why did you even call us, especially at this exam time? We had to leave our children at home, we had to leave our work at home to come to the meeting,” Mawlong said.
She described the abrupt closure of the meeting as an insult to those who had responded to the MLA’s invitation. “This act by Sanbor shows what kind of a leader he is. It is an insult because he did not listen to us,” she added.
Meanwhile, another JAC member, Olivia Lyngdoh, alleged that the meeting had been brought to an end before most of the invited representatives were given an opportunity to speak.
According to Lyngdoh, Shullai opened the meeting by referring to the participants as one family before reading out a report and inviting discussion.
However, she claimed that only two people were allowed to speak before the Minister abruptly declared the meeting closed. “We came to explain, but the MLA said we are one family, read out some report, said ‘I throw the discussion to the house,’ and only two people got to speak,” Lyngdoh said.
She expressed concern that several Rangbah Shnongs and representatives of Seng Samla and Seng Kynthei, who had been specifically invited to attend, were not given an opportunity to voice their opinions. “Many Rangbah had come. Rangbah Shnong, Seng Samla and Seng Kynthei had been invited, but they were not allowed to speak, and he ran away. What does it mean when you call us? He means to insult us,” she alleged.
Lyngdoh further criticised the MLA’s handling of the meeting, questioning his responsibility as an elected representative. “Sanbor’s running away shows that he is already a defeated leader. He has no right to call himself a representative when he behaves with us in this manner,” she said.
She maintained that the meeting had barely begun when Shullai announced its conclusion, leaving several participants, including JAC members, without an opportunity to express their views. “How does he run away when the meeting had not even properly started? He just read the report and said the meeting is closed. Even we from the JAC had not got to speak,” Lyngdoh said.
She also objected to the Minister’s alleged response when mothers attending the meeting attempted to raise their concerns. “When mothers speak, he says ‘wut shi wut’. When there is a meeting, do we have to listen only to whatever you say? We have to listen to each other, whether we agree or not,” she said.
Lyngdoh stressed that meaningful dialogue required all parties to be given an opportunity to speak, regardless of whether they agreed with one another.
Reiterating the committee’s position on the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, she said the JAC remained firm in its demand that the project be removed from the present location. “We demand that the Ropeway be removed from there. They already know that,” Lyngdoh stated.
The latest criticism comes amid continuing opposition to the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project from the JAC and sections of the local community, who have raised concerns over environmental protection, water security and the preservation of U Lum Shyllong.
The JAC has maintained that the project should be shifted away from the present site.
