Implement ILP or face the music: KSU to Centre govt

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 22, 2020

Marngar re-elected as KSU chief for second term

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Saturday asked the Centre and state governments to immediately implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya or be ready to face the consequences.

After the general election held to elect the new CEC for the term 2020-2023, KSU chief Lambokstarwell Marngar, who was re-elected unopposed for the second consecutive term, said the Union is prepared for an aggressive agitation to ensure the demand for ILP is achieved.

Stating that the issue of influx has been a concern for decades now, Marngar said, “The KSU today is sending a very clear message to the Centre and the state government to implement the ILP in Meghalaya or be ready to face the music from the people of the state.”

He also expressed surprised that the Central government has only assured to examine the demand for ILP during a meeting held between the union home minister Amit Shah and the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government delegation led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma recently.

“I am very surprise (at the outcome of the meeting in Delhi) because how can they (Centre) implement ILP in Manipur without examining the demand but for Meghalaya, they need to examine the same. This is totally unacceptable,” Marngar said.

The KSU president reminded the Centre that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had passed the resolution to implement the ILP on behalf of the people and the state and demanded, “They should respect the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Meghalaya.”

Marngar said the newly elected central executive committee (CEC) of the KSU by next week will be sitting to chalk out agitational programmes to mount pressure on the Centre to implement the ILP in the state.

According to him, the union has been protesting in a peaceful manner and now it will depend on the situation.

When asked, Marngar said at this juncture, there is need for a public movement to pressurize the Centre.

“Since December last year, we have organized so many public meetings in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region and now we will try to extend the same in Garo Hills region (for mobilizing this public movement,” he said.

“This is a very important issue as right from the day that the Central government had passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, there is a big threat to the identity of the indigenous people in Meghalaya,” he further added.

Marngar said the CAA has encouraged illegal foreigners to enter the state. “You have witnessed that in the past few days, some Bangladeshis have dared to enter and attacked not only civilians but even BSF personnel in the international border with Bangladesh,” he said.

Demanding the government to take up the issue seriously, the KSU chief warned by saying –“If the Centre and state governments cannot address this problem, the KSU along with its members will be compelled to take the matter in their own hands and address it once and for all.”

When reminded that earlier the union had threatened to set up its own check gates against influx and illegal immigration, Marngar however said that he cannot say whether the union will continue with the same process or not.

“However when the new CEC sits, we will definitely decide on how to carry forward this movement to ensure the ILP system is implemented in Meghalaya,” he said while adding that the KSU will also discuss with the other NGOs like FKJGP, RBYF and HNYF to further intensify their ILP agitation.

Along with Marngar, vice president Biangbor Lyngdoh Paliar and general secretary Donald V Thabah were also elected unopposed during the general election participated by over 4,000 members from 450 units of the KSU.