KSU threatens to set up own check gates against illegal immigrants

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 11, 2020

SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has decided to intensify protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 and to demand the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.

The Union has also threatened to put up its own check gates if the state government further delays implementing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 and setting up of the entry-exit points as mandated by the Act, to check illegal entry of outsiders into the state.

After the general executive council (GEC) meeting held here on Saturday, KSU chief Lambok Starwell Marngar told reporters that the Union has unanimously decided not to accept the CAA but to continue protesting against the “unconstitutional” act.

Informing that the KSU through the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) had already filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the CAA, Marngar said, “We are still waiting for outcome of the hearing on the matter which is scheduled on January 22.”

Welcoming the resolution passed by the state Assembly to implement the ILP in the state, the KSU chief said in fact the issue has been a long pending demand of the people of Meghalaya since 1987.

“However it is unfortunate even after we have entered the 11th day of the new year, the state government and its ministers are yet to be seen knocking on the Centre’s door to demand ILP for the state,” he rued.

Announcing that protest against CAA and demand for ILP will further be intensified, Marngar said democratic movement will continue.

“The meeting has decided to continue holding public meetings across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region. The public meeting at Mawsynram has been fixed on January 16 and Nongstoin on January 18,” he added.

Asked, Marngar said, “I don’t know whether it is because of the Centre which is not calling the state delegation or it is the state government which is sleeping over this issue but all I want to say is that a resolution has been passed and it is the duty of all the 60 MLAs to knock on the Centre’s door.”

As the state and its people are waiting for the Centre’s decision on the demand for ILP, the KSU has also reiterated that the state government should immediately implement the existing Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), whose objective is similar to that of the ILP.

Marngar said it has been 3 years ever since the MRSSA has come into existence but sadly to say that the “Act seems to end only in the Secretariat and the Governor’s office.”

“Therefore, it is high time for the state government to take steps to ensure that the existing Act is implemented,” he said.

Reminding that 41 locations have already been identified for the setting up of the entry-exit points in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region (18) and Garo Hills region (23), the KSU leader said, “We want the state government to speed up the process without any further delay.”

Stating that although the state government had from time to time maintained that setting up the infrastructures for the entry-exit points will take time, he however said if Manipur which recently got ILP can immediately start the process of checking and issuing of permits in temporary structures then the question is why should there be any difficulty for Meghalaya to do the same.

“Moreover, the state already has its infiltration check gates so why not strengthen them while the setting up of the entry-exit points is still pending,” he added.

Expressing concern over the absence of effective mechanism to prevent illegal entry and settlement of outsiders in the state, Marngar warned that if the government keeps on delaying, the Union will be left with no option but to set up its own check gates.

“We may even be compelled to set up our own gates especially in places where the infiltration check gates are located,” he said adding that the state can no longer wait as he referred to the recent incidents where people residing at the international border were attacked by Bangladeshi criminals.

According to him, it will only be shameful for the state government if it is waiting for the NGOs to set deadline for each and everything. “At end of the day protecting the state and its will not depend on good infrastructure you have but it is the seriousness of the government that matters,” Marngar asserted.

On reports that the contractor had stopped the work for construction of the entry point at Umling in Ri Bhoi District after failing to get any payment, the KSU leader said, “If the government has money to spent for festivals but does not have for setting up of such important infrastructures, the people in power will have to answer to the people of the state.”

To another query, Marngar said time will tell as to what action has to be taken on the decision of the Centre to implement the CAA.

He also reiterated that the KSU will foreigners who got Indian citizenship will always be treated as illegal immigrants in the state as “We do not accept the CAA”. “If thieves are trying to come to our homeland we have every right to chase them away,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KSU has also announced holding of its general election on February 22. Marngar said there will be no formation of new units till the new central executive committee (CEC) is elected. He also informed that the meeting has also entrusted the present CEC under his leadership to continue taking up issues concerning the state till the new body is installed.