SHILLONG, MAY 14: Reginal Shylla of Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, was forced to call off his planned indefinite hunger strike in Shillong on Thursday after district authorities refused permission, turning his lone protest rally into a sharp indictment of the state government’s 12-year-old ban on coal mining.

Holding a placard that read “no coal, no food, no lives,” Shylla walked from the State Central Library to Malki ground to highlight what he called the “prevailing crisis” facing thousands of families dependent on mining.

He said the protest aimed to push the government to frame a “traditional scientific coal mining” policy suited to Meghalaya’s terrain.

“We demand from the government to reopen coal mining, that is traditional scientific coal mining which the public can work on according to the nature of the land in our state of Meghalaya,” Shylla told reporters.

Shylla said he intended to begin fasting on Wednesday but was denied clearance. “Yes, in truth I intended to go on a hunger strike today but I did not get permission. But as a youth of the community, I have that strong spirit of love for the community that I am willing to sacrifice my life for the community by fasting,” he said.

He criticised the administration for allotting what he described as a “filthy” venue for the rally. “I am sad that they gave us a place to hold the rally that is filthy. To this extent the government looks down on us coal workers, they don’t even consider us as dogs anymore,” he said.

“We request with respect through the law but the government even gives us a place full of filth. To this level we are in front of the MDA government, we have become like filth. Insult, oppression, I don’t even wear slippers anymore.”

Shylla delivered a pointed message to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who holds the Mining and Geology portfolio, accusing him of ignoring repeated petitions. “Sir, how many multiple times of petition I have written to you as minister incharge of mining and not even once you reply or take up this issue. Today, this is the condition of our people, we don’t have slippers or proper clothes to wear. We don’t have money to buy food to feed our children. This is our condition. Shame on you as a minister incharge of mining and geology department,” he said.

Referencing the NPP’s 2018 campaign, he added, “When the NPP first came to power in 2018, the first MP election, you came to East Jaintia Hills for the campaign what you said give us vote within 6 months we will open coal, sir it is already ten years where have you open the coal. You are just making politics over our people’s issue. This is not a small issue. You will have to take up this issue.”He warned that protests would shift to East Jaintia Hills if denied in the capital. “If you don’t take up this issue, if I don’t get permission to do my hunger strike, I will take permission in East Jaintia I will protest till the government is willing to give us our rights.”

Pointing to his worn footwear, Shylla said it reflected the poverty in the coal belt. “My footwear is also worn out. This is a sign to show the poverty of the people. I want to show the whole world, Shillong, Meghalaya and NGOs that we who work in coal are suffering to this extent because water has reached our necks, we don’t know when our people will die of hunger,” he said.

He said the protest was meant to make the government see the ground reality. “This is a sign to show the government how much the people are suffering, how much our people in our region are dying, how poor they are, so that the government, so that Conrad Sangma will see, that Conrad’s eyes will see and look, his deaf ears will hear, that he will listen to the demands of the people.”

Shylla said the ruling party should not expect support without addressing livelihood concerns. “The government is only big during election campaigns, putting up NPP banners. Provide for the public first. You will not get votes even if you campaign as much as you want without fulfilling the demands of the public,” he said.

“Mr. Sniawbhalang hopes he will get 70-80% in Jaintia, I say just in East Jaintia, you may or may not even get 5% because our people are not fools, they will not sell out for your 5000 or 10,000 rupees. They need food on the plate, they need rice,” he added.

On the restrictions, Shylla said the Deputy Commissioner granted only an hour for the programme. “As per the order we got for permission from the DC, only one hour to complete the demand. At 10 we will walk from here to Malki ground and after that I will submit the petition to the chief minister,” he said.

“The coal ban has been for 12 years but the agitation to wake up the government we get only one hour,” he added, questioning why others were allowed to hold hunger strikes. “Bah Ardent gets permission for his hunger strike, Bah Adelbert Nongrum here goes on hunger strike, why do we from East Jaintia not get it, why are we not Meghalayans, don’t we have rights in Meghalaya. Why, are we outsiders? I am a Pnar.”

He invoked constitutional protections for peaceful protest. “Under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution we have been given the right to agitate without taking up arms, without disturbing the public. But we don’t get it,” he said.

Shylla concluded that the government could end the impasse if it chose to. “The government if they want what is the problem for them to give us a proper mining policy plan that is traditional and suitable for the state. Our demand is final judgment, final mining we want,” he said.