The KSU has announced fresh night blockades starting from Tuesday. Even some of the coalition partners in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance are unhappy with the government decision to expedite the pre-development projects at the mining sites.
After the two-day night road blockade, which ended yesterday, the KSU has announced another three-day night road blockade from Tuesday. The second phase will begin at 8pm and continue till 5am next day, till Friday.
The KSU said it had decided to intensify the agitation as the state government had taken a stand of confrontation. The Congress leadership, concerned by these developments, is likely to meet soon to discuss the issue.
Meghalaya chief secretary Ranjan Chatterjee ruled out the imposition of any curfew during the agitation.
A Congress leader said there should be a dialogue with NGOs and political parties opposed to uranium mining. Though the Congress-led MUA government as a whole had extended support to the decision of the state cabinet, a section of the UDP legislators supporting the government is unhappy over chief minister D.D. Lapang’s intention to expedite the project.
UDP legislator Ardent Basaiwmoit said a political movement would soon be launched to enlighten the people regarding the ill effects of uranium mining.
Though KHNAM minister Paul Lyngdoh is supporting the uranium mining, a member of the district council from KHNAM, Latiplang Kharkongor, backed Basaiwmoit.
Another coalition partner, the HSPDP, is also vehemently opposing the project.
