University students stage protest
Nongpoh/ Guwahati: The Ri Bhoi Youth Federation held a public rally on Wednesday to register their anger and strong opposition against CAB introduced by thr BJP at the Centre.
The rally started from the DTO office premises and culminated at MUDA shopping complex premises.
It witnessed hundreds of people including former leaders of the federation and other prominent leaders of the district.
During the rally members of the federation carried placards and shouted slogans condemning the BJP government, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Tura MP Agatha Sangma for their support to the bill.
RBYF President, Bipul Thangkhiew while speaking at the rally said that the federation will not be cowed down and will continue to protest against CAB at any cost while demanding from the NDA government at the Centre and the NPP-led MDA government in the state to implement Inner Line Permit in the state. People of the state and the North East rejects the bill, he added.
Thangkhiew also termed CAB as a ‘draconian law’ which will wipe up the entire tribal populace of the North Eastern states.
He also said that the federation will stand firm for implementation of ILP and if the government do not pay heed to the demands, it will intensify their protest and also start a Civil Disobedience Movement.
The federation leader also lambasted Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and Tura MP, Agatha Sangma for their support to the CAB and that these brother-sister duo have betrayed the people of the state and urged the other coalition partners of the MDA to stop their support to this government which is against the wishes and sentiments of the people.
Others who also spoke during the rally include former presidents of the Federation,
CL Masharing, Banbuhai Makdoh, FM Mawphniang and others who extended their full support for implementing ILP in the state while rejecting CAB.
Meanwhile, during the rally federation members also burnt down effigies of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma and Tura MP, Agatha Sangma.
NEHU, USTM protest
Hundreds of university students in Meghalaya too hit the streets from Wednesday morning, staging road blockades for several hours and shouting slogans against the BJP government’s pro-CAB stand.
“About 150 students of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), comprising members of the NEHU Research Scholars Forum, NEHU Assam Students Association as well as students of English and Foreign Language University staged a protest programme from 11am, blocking the main road at Umsning,” Nirupam Kalita, vice president, NEHU Assam Students Association, told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
Several students of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Ri Bhoi, also staged a protest on campus before marching near College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara and staging a sit-in demonstration and even boycott the ongoing examination on Wednesday morning.
The protesters, comprising hundreds of young men and women, held placards reading, ‘NE will never accept CAB’, ‘We can go to any extent to protect our culture’, ‘We condemn CAB’, et al.
The students which comprise of the Khasi Students Union unit and various other student bodies of the North Eastern states also marched towards the Assam Secretariat to voice their protest.
However, Assam police managed to stop the angry protesting students near the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara.
KSU USTM Unit General Secretary, Rijonstar Ranee condemns the Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, Tura MP, Agatha Sangma and South Shillong legislator, Sanbor Shullai for betraying the people of the state by supporting the CAB which is against the people of the North East.