Shillong fights I-Day bandh with a band

In a bid to put an end to the bandh culture that has been disrupting I-Day celebrations in Meghalaya for the past decade, the state is tryin...

In a bid to put an end to the bandh culture that has been disrupting I-Day celebrations in Meghalaya for the past decade, the state is trying to entice public participation by inviting Australian music band Afro Dezzi Act to perform on August 15.

For this, the government is embarking on a massive publicity drive imploring people to participate in I-Day celebrations.

Just two days ahead of the I-Day, the government circulated pamphlets which say, ‘‘Say no to militancy’’.

The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has already called a 24-hour bandh beginning from Friday. Bandh on I-Day and Republic Day in Meghalaya is nothing new. What is new is the government’s resolve to get public participation despite the bandh call. It has requested schools to send its students to participate in the celebration at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. It is also expected to issue a circular tomorrow making government employees mandatory to participate in the functions.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives on Air Force One at LaGuardia Airport. (Photo: AP)

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