Move to join HNLC
SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union on Wednesday blamed political leaders for compelling the youths of the State to join militant outfits.
“It is the failure of our political leaders which is creating a negative mindset among the youth. There is anger and frustration among the younger generation since the political masters have failed to perform and deliver as elected representatives,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem told newsmen after a meeting of the KSU central executive committee to discuss the resignation of its vice president Frederick Kharmawphlang, who has reportedly joined the outlawed HNLC.
Khyriem slammed the political leaders for maintaining silence on issues like unemployment, creation of job opportunities and issues concerning fiscal growth and economy of the State and also the protection of the interest of small-time indigenous businessmen from exploited at the hands of non-tribal businessmen.
“Sadly, most of these issues are being raised by the NGOs since the political leaders are mum on all these issues,” Khyriem said.
The KSU president also informed that they have decided to accept Kharmawphlang’s resignation from the students’ body.
“We hope that he (Kharmawphlang) has taken this decision with a mature mind. We will definitely miss him since he had always been the pillar for any major decision taken by the Union,” Khyriem said.
He also maintained that the door for Kharmawphlang would always be open to come back to their fold.
Assuring that the KSU would always leave its doors open for Kharmawphlang to return to the Union, Khyriem said, “The Government from time to time holds dialogues with various militant outfits. We would be ready to take him back if he (Kharmawphlang) decides to come to the negotiation table.”
To a query on whether the delay tactics of the Government in implementing the ILP had compelled Kharmawphlang to join the HNLC, the KSU president said that Kharmawphlang had indicated that this was the primary reason that prompted him to take this drastic step.
“There is frustration over the Government’s delay tactics not only among all the leaders of the Union but also even among the general public since the Government has been delaying the demand for implementation of a strong law to tackle the problem of influx since 2012,” he said, which also blaming the Government for not respecting the recommendations of the High Level Committee (HLC) on Influx, which it had constituted.
“We would meet the Government to present our points of demand. But if the Government refuses to accept our proposal then we would not hesitate in taking drastic action,” Khyriem said, while reiterating that the pressure groups have not gone soft on their earlier demand for implementation of the ILP.