NONGPOH: Pressure groups from Ri Bhoi have expressed their disappointment over the delay in setting up entry and exit points.
In this regard, a meeting was held on Monday where four pressure groups discussed on how to convince the state government in implementing entry and exit points in the district as a comprehensive mechanism to check influx.
The meeting was important following the publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) by the Assam government where it was stated that more than 40 lakh were suspected to be dubious citizens. Leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union, North Khasi Hills District Unit (KSU NKHD), Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) also unanimously decided to protest if the state government did not pay heed to implementing the entry and exit points at 19th Mile and 13th Mile, respectively.
Ferdynald Kharkamni, president of KSU NKHD, Marcus Marten, president of HNYF northern region, Luistar Lyngdoh, general secretary of FKJGP NKHD and Denis M Syngkli, organising secretary of RBYF central body and other members met Deputy Commissioner Rosetta Mary Kurbah at her office chamber to seek the status of check points. Also present in the meeting were headman and secretary of 20th Mile, Jayand Sylliang and Prince Sylliang, respectively. Later, the leaders told reporters that the meeting with the DC was successful.
The DC told them that the administration had done their level best to facilitate speedy implementation of entry and exit points.
“The DC had also informed us that all documents related to the setting up of an entry point at 19th Mile had been forwarded to the state government for approval whereas for the exit point, issues emerged after villagers of 13th Mile protested against land acquisition,” one of the leaders said, adding that the DC had also given them assurance that the district administration would do their best as instructed by the state government towards finding earliest solutions.
The leaders also expressed dismay on the lackadaisical attitude of the government stating, “If the government takes so much time just for the first phase of implementing entry and exit points, we’re afraid how long the state government will take for the other three phases of implementing the comprehensive mechanism to tackle influx as this is a very serious issue.”
