Govt functioning slow down in 3-day picketing

Shillong, Apr 18 (UNI) Normal functioning of offices and banks in Meghalaya's Khasi Hills was almost paralysed following a three-day picketing by the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) that began today amid high security bandobast here.

The office picketing was being held in protest against the Meghalaya government's decision to appoint former state chief secretary P J Bazeley as the Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MESEB) chairman. However, educational institutions have been exempted.

In a significant development, most of the organisations from the Jaintia Hills have supported the appointment of Mr Bazeley while the Garo students' Union has joined hands with their counterpart in Khasi hills in this regard.

Meghalaya had seen intense agitation in the later half of last year over the issue of restructuring Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education (MBOSE) that created a virtual rift between the two major communities in the state--Khasis and Garos.

KSU president Samuel Jyrwa today told UNI that the picketing was being staged at state and central offices, banks and he appealed to the people to co-operate with the union.

The KSU president said re-appointing a retired government servant would certainly demoralise other officers. Some political parties like NCP and BJP have openly critcised the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government's move to re-appoint the former chief secretary.

Meghalaya Home Minister H D R Lyngdoh appealed to the student organisation to withdraw their stir and come to the negotiation table.

UNI PRS BA SRS VC1344