Meghalaya observes ‘black day’ against CAA

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 11, 2020

Meghalaya on Friday observed a ‘black day’ as a mark of protest against the Centre’s decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Display of black flags and black banners marked the observation of the black day in the Khasi – Jaintia and Garo Hills region.

Some of the banners put up by Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in and around Shillong city read “Replace CAA with ILP in Meghalaya”, “December 11, 2019 the day CAA became an Act, a black day for the indigenous NE communities”, “Lurshai Hynniewta was killed because of CAA. A sign of darker days ahead”.

The black declared by the North East Students Organization (NESO) was also observed in the different states of the North east region.

“The black day is to send a clear message to the central government that we outrightly rejected the CAA,” KSU chief Lambokstarwell Marngar said.

He said the central government instead of respecting the sentiments of the NE people has gone ahead passing the CAA in December 11, last year which shows that it is more concerned about illegal immigrants rather than protecting the indigenous communities of the region.

“The whole NE has one problem in common related to the unabated influx but the Centre by passing the CAA attempt to wipe out the indigenous people by turning them minorities in their home land,” Marngar said.

The KSU chief also said the black day is also to send a clear message to the Centre that it should immediately implement the inner line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya and the whole of NE region.

“If the Centre respects the voice of the people, it should declare implementation of the ILP. This is because the CAA is not applicable in those states which ILP is being implemented,” he said.

Asked, Marngar while admitting that the sixth schedule areas are exempted from the purview of the CAA said, “But it is meaningless if the draconian law is implemented in non sixth schedule areas of the state.”

“Also if the state government of Meghalaya dares to entertain any applications under the CAA, then it is upto the government to understand the consequences that it will bring,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KSU has decided to intensify agitational programmes against the Centre’s delay to approve the resolution for implementation of ILP passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, last year.