Shillong Assamese community holds sit-in demonstration
SHILLONG/NONGPOH/TURA: Hundreds of people in different parts of the state joined the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, on Monday and the joining of the Assamese community added muscle to the Shillong agitation.
The Shillong Socio-Cultural Assam Students Association (SCCASA) held a sit-in demonstration at Asom Krishti Kendra in Dhankheti on Monday demanding implementation of the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation, 1873, or the inner line (ILP) permit system in the North East.
Members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) led by its general secretary Donald V Thabah also joined the sit-in.
“We demand from the Centre to repeal the Act since it is a legislation that is against the interest and sentiments of the people of the region. CAA will… divide the indigenous communities of the region,” said Dheeman Bhuyan, advisor to the Assam Socio-Cultural Association.
Bhuyan informed that a leader of a Hindu organisation in Dhaka, Govinda Chandra Pramanik, told reporters there that 2.5 crore Hindus could migrate to India with the hope of getting citizenship.
“Where will we accommodate them? Already there are shortage of government jobs, resources and space. We cannot accommodate anymore,” he added.
According to Thabah, while the Assamese community is supporting ILP for Meghalaya, KSU is extending its support to implementation of the Assam Accord.
“The stand of NESO and KSU is that ILP should be implemented in the whole region,” said Thabah, adding that the relation between KSU and SCCASA dates back to 1979 during the anti-foreigners movement.
Signature campaign
In Nongpoh, a signature campaign for ILP and against the draconian Act witnessed participation of thousands of people cutting across age groups and from all walks of life. Event government employees took part.
The campaign will be till December 19 when the special Assembly session to bring in government resolution to implement ILP will be held.
Leaders of several local organisations like Ri Bhoi Youth Federation, Seng Longkmie Iewmawlong, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front, FKJGP and KSU, stressed the need for a united stand.
A rally was taken out from Lad Sajer to the deputy commissioner’s office and back to the venue.
The agitators chanted slogans condemning the Centre for implementing the Act and slammed Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Tura MP Agatha K Sangma for supporting it.
In Tura, the All Garo Hills Joint Action Committee (AGHJAC) organised a public rally at Chandmary playground.
Vice president of both Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations and North East Indigenous People’s Forum Nikman Ch Marak said the Centre was trying to mislead people by saying that areas under the Sixth Schedule and with ILP have been exempted from the Act.
The Sixth Schedule is not enough to protect the people of the region and there should be a united protest against the Act.
GSU (Interim body) president Zikku Balgra N Marak said the Centre ignored the people’s concerns by making the bill an Act.
“The next step is to demand for ILP as well as implementation of the Garo Customary Law. Protests against the CAB should not stop,” he added.
The speakers at the rally cited the case of Tripura where the tribal populace has been overwhelmed by Bangladeshi migrants. “This will happen to Garo Hills also if we are not careful. Half of Assam and the plain belt areas of Garo Hills are plagued by illegal influx. The people need to understand the Sixth Schedule.
NGOs alone will not succeed and we must all cooperate,” said ADE president Dalseng Bira Ch Momin, who called for non-violent protests.
AYWO president Sengbat Ch Marak said that as per the Constitution, a religion-based law cannot be enacted but the BJP went ahead with its decision to pass the controversial bill without thinking about the people.
He added that Garo Hills does not only consist of Sixth Schedule areas and there are municipal areas where the CAB will affect the people. He expressed concern about outsiders getting citizenship in Assam and entering Garo Hills. Marak also said that the presence of dual voters in Sixth Schedule areas was an indication that “illegal migrants can come and go whenever they wish”.
Marak also alleged that the National Registration of Citizens (NRC) was meant to target the Muslim residents of Assam but the same backfired and instead affected the Bengali Hindus and added that the Act was an attempt to bring them back.
While Monday’s rally strongly demanded the implementation of the ILP, no agitation to pursue the same has been announced by the organisations for now.