Shillong, Sept 04: Notwithstanding the Supreme Court verdict in the aftermath of the Tamil Nadu employees strike, a clutch of social and human rights organisations in Meghalaya are opposing tooth and nail the D D Lapang Congress-led coalition government's decision to bring an ordinance banning bandhs. The coordination committee to protest the Meghalaya maintenance of public order (autonomous district) (amendment) 2003, an umbrella body of over 15 organisations, spearheading the agitation here, was of the view that the apex court ruling was meant for government employees and trade unions.

"The situation there and in Meghalaya are very different. The Lapang government wants to take refuge in the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court verdicts to ban bandhs and hartals here, which is not justified," the chairman of the human rights council and convenor of the coordination committee, Dino Dympep, told news agencies.

"The particular Supreme Court verdict is actually meant for government employees and trade unions and not to suppress the voice of the common people and curtail their rights," he said.
The cabinet's decision on august 20 to bring the ordinance to amend the relevant act of 1953 to ban bandhs and hartals and declare them illegal with a two year jail term and a fine Rs 5000 tagged to it to 'safeguard' the interests of daily wage-earners has also touched off discord in the ruling alliance.

Bureau Report