Entry-exit points
NONGPOH: Leaders of four organisations comprising the Khasi Students Union (KSU), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Federation of Khasi Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP) and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) on Wednesday conducted an inspection at the ongoing construction site of entry-exit point at Umling in Ri Bhoi district.
Speaking to media persons soon after the inspection, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar expressed concern over the slow pace of progress on the construction of the entry-exit point, which is one of the core issues of the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya.
“We are deeply concerned over the slow pace of progress on the ongoing construction of entry point which is a very important issue for the ‘Jaidbynriew’ to combat influx, whereas when it comes to construction of weighbridge the progress is quite fast”, Marngar said adding that the organisation will not sit idle on this but will keep pressuring the government for early completion of the entry -exit point.
Marngar also said that the message to the government is that they should accord priority to completing this entry-exit point as per the comprehensive mechanism agreed upon earlier and that they will also urge the government to consider 1971 as the cut-off year for illegal immigrants.
On the BJP set to assume power at the Centre and the party’s intention to bring back the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), Marngar said they want the government to tackle the influx issue and threatened agitational steps if it is not done.
FKJGP leader Wellbirth Rani, who was also present during the inspection, said that the visit was to get a first hand idea of the progress on construction of the entry point, said that they are not happy at all with the progress so far.
Rani also lamented the government’s lack of initiative to start construction of the entry-exit points in other districts as well, though acquisition of land and other aspects have been finalised.
Sadon Blah, general secretary of the HNYF, said that the government should remember the basic points of agreement with the leaders of various NGOs while implementing the entry-exit point to categorise the visitors as tourists, labourers etc and that it should make it clear whether these points will be implemented.
