Shillong: The Meghalaya government has given the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) a 15-day ultimatum to resolve their issues and make a decision regarding the relocation of 342 families from the Harijan Colony.
This comes after a six-year stalemate since 2018.
On Saturday, a meeting was held between government representatives, led by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, and HPC leaders, along with other Sikh organizations, to discuss the relocation proposal.
While progress was made, some issues remain to be addressed.
The HPC had previously accepted the government’s proposal to relocate the families to the Shillong Municipal Board quarters on Bishop Cotton Road. However, they now seek to consult with larger organizations before making a final decision.
Deputy Chief Minister Dhar emphasized that the matter is solely between the government and the HPC, and external interference will not be tolerated.
Jagdeep Singh from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee described the meeting as fruitful, despite some outstanding issues.
The relocation demand gained momentum in 2018 following violent clashes in Shillong, leading to a two-month curfew. The area remains under police surveillance to this day.
The government’s deadline aims to bring a long-awaited resolution to the relocation issue, which has been pending for six years.