KSU members ready to go to jail if govt bulldoze on railway issue: Marngar

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 20, 2025

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Thursday said thousands of its members will not hesitate to go to jail if the state government dare to bulldoze its way to introduce railway line in the Khasi and Jaintia region in absence of effective and strong anti-influx mechanisms like the inner line permit (ILP).

“While we are fighting for ILP, suddenly they came up with proposal to introduce the railway line. Therefore, we are sending a loud and clear message not to provoke the KSU because we want immediate implementation of strong and effective laws to protect the rights and interests of the Khasi community,” KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said while addressing at a meeting to mark the 47th anniversary of the union. 

He also warned, “If government dare to bulldoze, then it should also be ready to expand the different district jails as thousands of KSU members are ready to go to jail. The KSU doesn’t have time to give big talks in social media, we are busy fighting on the ground for the protection of the Khasi community.”

Marngar said the state government had already passed a resolution for implementation of the ILP but unfortunately the matter is still lying pending for the Centre’s decision.

He also questioned the government’s failure to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 and said, “People should not only question what the KSU has done to protect the Khasi community but they should also question the legislators what have they done on this when they have been elected to make laws for the protecting the indigenous community.”

The KSU president also reminded that it was tough journey for the union in the past 47 years and said, “We have faced many challenges while taking up the different issues affecting the indigenous community.”

He alleged that the government whether state or centre have made many attempts to divide the KSU.

“In 2007-2009 there was an attempt to divide the KSU because of uranium issue not only through use of money but even to the extent of trying to take the lives of the KSU leaders. Therefore, we are here to remind the KSU in its 47 years of existence has been standing for the cause of the indigenous people to safeguarding their rights and interests.”

The KSU established in 1978 is a brain-child of a group of students to safeguard the rights of the Khasi community through a common platform. 

An apolitical organization which strives towards a noble aspiration for the solidarity and unity of the Khasi people, the KSU plays a pivotal role for the empowerment and betterment of the Khasis in every aspect. 

The students from NEHU and different colleges of Meghalaya with a common objective assembled at the Khasi National Durbar Hall, Mawkhar, Shillong, deliberated, and decided to form and name the organization as the KSU. 

The KSU was thus founded on March 20, 1978, by a group of students who were patriotic to unite the students belonging from u Khynriam, u Pnar, U Bhoi, U War, Maram, Lyngngam and Diko sub-groups who formed the Khasi community. 

The motto of the Union was adopted as Mait Shaphrang Khlur Ka Ri meaning strive forward children of the soil.