A video displaying the burning of the Tricolour here has gone viral with some claiming that the act was done to oppose the Centre’s “highhandedness” and demand the implementation of the inner-line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
The video surfaced on Facebook on Thursday afternoon, and it was claimed that the act was carried out in the state capital.
However, there was no specific mention of any locality.
In the video, the Tricolour was seen being put on a wall and fuel poured on it before it was consigned to flames.
The act came at a time when there has been growing demand for ILP in the state while the Centre has claimed that it was examining the demand.
The demand heightened following the introduction of the ILP in Manipur last December.
The group/individual who had posted the video stated that the act was carried out to “oppose the Centre’s highhandedness”.
There were also papers placed on the ground with writing demanding the implementation of the ILP, with the words, “Hynñiewtrep Army”.
“This act carried out by the youths of ‘Hynñiewtrep’ showcases to the world that we will not bow down before any powerful law of the land,” the post stated.
It also said the “oppression” of the minorities has been going on from time to time while the government has been indulging in activities to drive the minorities away.
“Over and above the oppression and discrimination, now there is a law like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which will persecute us,” it added.
“The message through this video is that Hynñiewtrep is not a land where foreigners will be dumped, and that the foreigners will be ruling over us. We are masters of our own land who will govern ourselves. We are prepared,” it said.
Reacting to the act of burning the flag, East Khasi Hills superintendent of police, Claudia A. Lyngwa, said the police would file a suo motu complaint.
“This act (of burning the Tricolour) is an act of sedition. All of us are bound to respect the sanctity of the flag. We will trace the people who are behind this,” Lyngwa added.
