Guwahati: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has intensified its opposition to Meghalaya’s MDA 2.0 government over the Lumpongdeng Island issue, announcing a large public gathering at Motphran on April 22 as part of a wider campaign against what it terms policies harmful to indigenous communities.
With this move, the VPP is expanding the scope of the protest beyond the island issue to include concerns over recruitment irregularities in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees, along with demands related to teachers and people living in border areas.
The decision was taken by VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit after a meeting with party leaders on Saturday.
He criticised the National People’s Party (NPP)-led government, accusing it of ignoring the concerns of the Khasi-Jaintia population, particularly over its stand on the long-term lease of Lumpongdeng Island.
He said the situation now requires firm action, adding that the party will no longer wait for further explanations from the government.
The VPP’s move comes at a time when the protest led by the Green-Tech Foundation has entered its second week without any official response. By linking the island lease issue with broader concerns such as employment processes and working conditions of teachers, the party aims to bring together various public grievances under a unified platform.
In the coming days, the VPP plans to launch awareness drives across the state to inform people before stepping up its protest with stronger measures.
Basaiawmoit appealed to residents of the Khasi-Jaintia region to attend the Motphran gathering, warning that the agitation could intensify if the government fails to respond.