FKJGP elects new body, vows to intensify anti-influx campaign

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 12, 2022

The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has decided to intensify its “anti-influx campaign” after there has been undue delay of the government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and setting up of entry and exit points in the state.

This was announced by the newly elected president of the FKJGP, Dundee C Khongsit addressing at the oath taking ceremony of the new central executive committee (CEC) held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium here on Tuesday.

“We have decided to intensify our anti-influx campaign so long as the state does not get ILP,” Khongsit said.

He said the state government is totally shifting the responsibility to address the issue to the central government by claiming that the matter is now in its court.

In December 2019, the state Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately implement ILP in Meghalaya.

The newly elected president further slammed the state government for its failure to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) passed in 2016 by not setting up entry and exit points to check influx into the state.

“The government’s decision to set up infrastructure in these proposed entry and exit points is seen as trying to buy time,” he said.

Stating that ILP and MRSSA are more or less having the same objective, Khongsit said that the entry-exit points was decided to be called as facilitation centres to ensure that they are not seen as anti-outsiders but this was misinterpreted by the “black sheep” of the indigenous community.

Talking about the unemployment problem which is affecting the local youth in the state, the FKJGP chief said that youth have lost faith in the system due to corruption and sent a strong warning to government officials not to play with the future of the youth.

Earlier, Khongsit along with the leaders of the new CEC also took oath administered by the former FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani.

Rani, who had served as FKJGP president for 26 years, was also felicitated by the federation and the Khasi Students Union (KSU) during the occasion.

In his speech, Rani has expressed confidence that the new body will take the responsibility of fulfilling the long pending demands of the indigenous people by ensuring the state gets ILP and proper implementation of trading licenses.

“Although we are thankful that we have the reservation policy and the land transfer act, we need more effective laws to protect our people and their interest,” he asserted. He further warned that massive agitation will be inevitable if the government continues to be adamant towards the demand of the NGOs.