SHILLONG: Prestone Tynsong, the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police), requested on Monday that the Hindu organisation Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP) research Meghalaya's land tenure structure before submitting a request to the government for the reopening of the Mawjymbuin cave.
“Let us go back to the history of this Mawjymbuin. That particular place doesn’t belong to the state government and they need to understand one thing, whoever from outside the state, they need to know exactly the land tenure system that we have here in the state of Meghalaya", Tynsong said to the media.
According to his explanation, Meghalaya's land tenure structure prevents the government from acquiring land unless the landowner consents and the Shnong, Raid, or Dorbar and Syiem grant their consent.
“Therefore, I would like to appeal to such organizations be it from within the state or outside the state, let us also understand the reality about the land tenure system that we have here because no one is above the system that we have. No one is above the traditional practices that we have, so I think we need to understand that,” he said.
The KSP has given the government of Meghalaya ten days to reopen the Mawjymbuin Cave for Hindu ceremonies. If their demand is not fulfilled before Christmas, the group has threatened to block important Meghalayan routes, such as Jorabat near Guwahati.
For months, there has been a brewing issue over Mawjymbuin Cave, which is about 60 km from Shillong and close to Mawsynram. Hindus hold this natural limestone cave in high regard because of its distinctive rock formation that resembles a Shivaling beneath dripping stalactites.
However, due to a number of issues, the Dorbar Shnong (local village council) of Mawsynram has banned religious ceremonies within the cave as of August 6, 2024.
The Meghalaya High Court heard the case and ordered the state administration to consult with the appropriate parties in order to find a solution. Satya Ranjan Borah, the president of the KSP, asserted that the administration has not advanced in spite of this.
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