Shillong, Jul 3: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) on Tuesday shut down some offices of the Central government after they were found functioning on the occasion of the Behdeiñkhlam festival.
The state government has declared a state holiday on account of Behdeiñkhlam.
The office of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Shillong is one of the central offices which were made to close down.
“We were compelled to close down some of the offices which are mainly departments of the central government, after they were found to remain open on the occasion of the Behdeinkhlam festival. This only shows they have no respect for our culture,†KHNAM-state youth wing president Thomas Passah said.
On meeting the geologist of the UCIL, Passah said that it was found out that as per the list of holidays of the UCIL, occasions like Christmas, Good Friday, Nongkrem Dance festival, Behdeinkhlam, Shad Weiking and others were not included.
“Interestingly, occasions which include Makar Sankranti, Holi, Vishwakarma Puja, Durga, Diwali were notified as holidays,†he said.
The KHNAM urged the state government to intervene into the matter and ensure that such Central government offices are well informed about the important days observed in the state.