Shillong (Meghalaya), June 21: State BJP president Rikman Momin led a delegation to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here, pushing for a quick, amicable solution to shift the Dalit Sikh community from Them Iew Mawlong to the proposed Cantonment Area.
Momin called the relocation sensitive and long pending, saying a resolution would benefit both Meghalaya and the NDA government. District president Priambada Blah said settling the issue now would build confidence among tribals and added that the Khasi-Jaintia community would be grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi if it is resolved during his tenure.
The team also raised stalled building byelaws in Shillong Cantonment. State vice president Bipen Pradhan said a new policy has been pending since 2017, while the interim setup has hiked land rent by 1,000 times under STR rules. The nine-year delay, he warned, could trigger litigation.
Shillong City president Bob Lyngdoh sought early clearance for defence land needed to complete the Barik Point–Jhalupara road expansion, saying the project is stuck without it.
Singh assured the delegation the matters would be examined and taken up with concerned authorities for an early solution.
