Nongpoh, July 9: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District, on Wednesday locked the office of the Director of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Umiam, alleging that the Director behaved arrogantly and showed disrespect when the union approached him regarding the denial of a holiday for employees to observe the traditional Behdienkhlam festival.
The leaders of the KSU Umiam Circle and the KSU Eastern Border Area visited the Director’s office to request that all employees of the institution be granted a holiday as a mark of respect for the Behdienkhlam festival. However, the union alleged that instead of giving due consideration to the request, the Director responded in a rude and dismissive manner, which the KSU described as disrespectful.
The incident soon escalated into a heated verbal altercation between the Director and KSU members. Following the confrontation, leaders of the KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit, led by Organising Secretary Baiashanlang Kharshonlor and Assistant Secretary Stevenson Kharkhrang, arrived at the office in an attempt to resolve the matter through dialogue. The union, however, claimed that the Director continued to disregard their appeal and failed to show respect to their request.
Alleging that the Director mistreated his authority and remained insensitive towards the religious sentiments associated with the Behdienkhlam festival, KSU members asked all employees to vacate the premises before locking the Director’s office in protest.
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The protest further intensified as KSU members not only locked the Director’s office but also allegedly demanded that the Director leave the office premises. The union also directed all employees to stop work, expressing strong resentment over what it termed as the Director’s disrespect towards the observance of the Behdienkhlam festival.
