By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 30: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Thursday slammed the BJP-led central government for allegedly suppressing the minorities.
The students’ body said such behaviour of the Centre was evident from the frequent attacks on the Christians in various parts of the country, passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the non-implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
“There is a big question on the Centre’s double standard attitude. At a time when the people of the state were demanding the implementation of ILP to protect the interests of the indigenous population, the Centre instead brought CAA to provide Indian citizenship to the persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan,” KSU president, Lambokstarwell Marngar said at a programme where the members of the union paid floral tributes to legendary martyr U Kiang Nangbah on his 159th death anniversary.
The life size statue of the freedom fighter has been erected opposite Shillong Civil Hospital.
Accusing the Centre of adopting “ulterior tactics” to make the indigenous people a minority in their own land, he slammed the Centre for implementing the CAA on religious lines. He equated the Centre with the British, alleging that it had come up with the legislation to suppress the various minority groups.
“I want to make it very clear that the KSU will strongly oppose any legislation which infringes upon the rights, culture and practices of the indigenous community of the state,” the KSU president said.
Meanwhile, he said the people of Hynniewtrep as a community are still facing challenges on all fronts and called upon everyone to shoulder the responsibility to work towards safeguarding the interest of the indigenous people.
Marngar said the community will live if there is a sense of responsibility with everyone. U Kiang Nangbah was captured and hanged publicly by the British on December 30, 1862.
Legends have it that when he was put to the gallows, his last words were – “If my face turns eastward when I die on the rope, we shall be free again within a hundred years. If it turns westwards, we shall be enslaved forever.” His prophesy came true as India attained independence within a hundred years.
The British had subjugated the indigenous people of the region. Raja Rajendra Singh of Jaintiapur, a Jaintia king then, was deprived of his kingdom through deceit when his territory in the plains was taken away by the British.
He was left with the option to rule over his people in the hills which offered little scope for earning revenue for running the administration which he stoically declined.
The British then imposed taxes on the people and this gave birth to U Kiang Nangbah who resolved to oust them for good.