Shillong: A damaged bust of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Rynjah will be restored with government support after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited the site and sanctioned ₹5 lakh for the restoration work.
Sangma visited R.R. Colony in Rynjah, Shillong, on August 29 to inspect the damage to the bust and meet members of the local community. The visit came after the monument was vandalised recently.
During the visit, the Chief Minister announced the ₹5 lakh sanction for restoring the damaged bust. The move is aimed at ensuring that the monument is brought back to its original condition following the vandalism.
Sangma also used the occasion to reiterate the state government’s opposition to vandalism and acts that could disturb social harmony.
He told community members that the government remains firmly opposed to any forces or activities that threaten the peace, harmony and unity of Shillong and Meghalaya.
Visit Comes Amid Recent Tensions in Shillong
The Chief Minister’s visit comes against the backdrop of recent incidents of violence and vandalism in parts of Shillong. Reports have linked the damage to the Netaji bust to the unrest surrounding a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) black-flag motorcycle rally held earlier in August.
The government has maintained that acts of vandalism and violence will not be tolerated and that those responsible for such incidents will face action according to law.
The restoration announcement is also being viewed as an effort to reassure residents and reinforce the government’s message of maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state.
The Netaji bust at R.R. Colony has historical significance for the locality. Reports state that it was installed in January 2023.
