Khasi Students’ Union Appeals to Meghalaya Governor for Urgent Action on Key Issues, Including ILP and CAA Repeal

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today sought Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar’s intervention on 6 pressing issues affecting Meghalaya.

Among the 6 critical issues are-

1. Implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 or the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
2. Repeal of the Amendment to the Citizenship Act 2019.
3. Exemption from the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950.
4. Resolution of the ongoing border dispute with Assam.
5. Inclusion of the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule.
6. Establishment of a permanent Central Agricultural University in Meghalaya.

A KSU delegation led by its Secretary Donald V Thabah today met Governor CH Vijayashankar at his residence and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

The KSU in its memorandum highlighted its ongoing efforts to combat the influx of illegal immigrants into the state, emphasizing the need for effective regulatory measures.

It said that on November 30, 2019, it submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the implementation of the ILP and subsequently, on December 19, 2019, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed a resolution advocating for the immediate enactment of the ILP across the state. Further pressing the matter, it sent a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 10, 2020, after the state government indicated that the ILP issue was under examination by the Central Government. Despite these efforts, the public has yet to receive a positive response, leaving many in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.

Regarding the repeal of the Amendment to the Citizenship Act 2019, the KSU said, “Amendment is in no way against any particular religion or community, but its primary concern is the threat of gradual annihilation of the microscopic indigenous tribal communities in the face of larger immigrating communities especially from Bangladesh irrespective of caste, community or religion.”

Voicing serious concerns regarding the implications of the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty of 1950, the union highlighted how it led to a significant influx of Nepali citizens in Meghalaya since 1980.

“Meghalaya has seen a surge in the Nepali population in the state which poses a threat to the minuscule tribal population of the state leading to unwanted conflicts between the two groups. The immigrant Nepali community is also creating problems in the bordering areas of Meghalaya challenging the indigenous tribal rights to their land and state,” said the KSU.

Regarding the Assam-Meghalaya border issue, the KSU said that there are numerous areas of dispute with Assam, prominent amongst them are Langpih, Block I, Block II, Khanduli, Psiar, Moolber, Moojem, Sabuda, Nongwah-Mawtamur, etc. which fall under the jurisdiction of the traditional institutions of the Khasi Chiefs. Despite ongoing talks between the two Governments, there are still territorial conflicts between the citizens of these two states. Therefore, it sought the Governor’s guidance for both Governments to ensure that the disputed areas which falls under the jurisdiction of the tribal Khasi chiefs, should be included under the territory of Meghalaya.

The KSU said that their appeal to include the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule is a genuine demand and urged the Governor to kindly look into it to ensure that the language survives in all aspects and continues to progress especially in academic perspective.

Lastly, the union said that it is necessary that a full-fledged autonomous Agricultural University be set up in Meghalaya.

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