Shillong, November 6: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) opposing the Shillong Ropeway project on Friday questioned the silence of Cabinet Minister and South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai over the ongoing agitation, accusing him of abandoning the very people who elected him. Speaking to reporters during a sit-in protest against the state government’s alleged adamant attitude towards the demands of the residents, JAC president Deborah Marbaniang expressed disappointment over Shullai’s failure to visit or engage with the protesting residents of his own constituency.
Marbaniang questioned the whereabouts of the legislator at a time when residents of Laban Pyllun were protesting against the proposed ropeway project and raising concerns over the role of the local Dorbar Shnong. “What is surprising is that this incident has happened in the locality, an incident between the Rangbah Shnong and the residents, and what is surprising is where our representative has disappeared to,” she said. “Even while we are sitting here, he has not come to visit the residents. The MLA became a person because of all these voters of his. What is sad is, where is our representative, where is our MLA?” she questioned.
Recalling the support extended to Shullai by the people of Laban since his tenure as a Member of District Council (MDC), Marbaniang said the residents had stood by him throughout his political career but now felt abandoned. “From the time he was MDC till now that he is MLA and minister, we supported him. Now he has disappeared. It is useless to elect a person who turns his back on us,” she said. She maintained that the residents expected their elected representative to stand with them, listen to their grievances and offer guidance in matters affecting the welfare of the locality.
Marbaniang also criticised Shullai for allegedly failing to fulfil his election promises, urging him to come forward and engage with the residents. “During election time he promised heaven and earth, but now he has disappeared. We request Bah Sanbor Shullai to come, he should not leave us. Just because he himself is fine, he should not stop thinking about us. We too have the right to speak with the leader of the whole of Laban Pyllun,” she said.
Reaffirming the JAC’s opposition to the Shillong Ropeway project, Marbaniang declared that the agitation would continue until the state government cancels the project. “As long as the government has not cancelled the project, we will continue to sit here. If needed, we will go hungry and we will give our lives, but the government must remove the ropeway from Lum Shyllong,” she asserted.
The JAC president also demanded the cancellation of the land lease agreement connected to the project, alleging that residents had been kept in the dark about the arrangement between the Dorbar Shnong and the state government. “The Rangbah Shnong should scrap the land lease. We did not even know that they leased it to the government. We are kept in the dark,” she said.
The JAC maintained that it would continue its protest until its demands were addressed, including the cancellation of the ropeway project and the disputed land lease agreement.
