SHILLONG, Dec 7: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday criticised the state government for failing to ensure the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
“Why should the government wait for the Centre to implement a legislation passed by the state Assembly? This clearly reflects on the inefficiency of the political leadership in our state,” KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said while speaking at a gathering where people paid tributes to the union’s former president Bull N Lyngdoh on his 28th death anniversary.
Marngar said the demand for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) had garnered huge support during Lyngdoh’s tenure as the KSU president.
“But this demand has remained unfulfilled till now, even after the state Assembly passed a resolution on December 19, 2019 due to the adamant stand of the Centre,” Marngar said.
According to him, the delay also shows the Centre totally disrespects the sentiments of the indigenous people and the Meghalaya Assembly along with the 60 MLAs of the state.
Criticising the state government for allegedly being too weak in its approach, the KSU president said he is not sure whether those in power discuss these pending issues when they visit New Delhi.
The state government should aggressively pursue the ILP issue with the Centre and ensure its implementation if it is really serious, Marngar insisted.
He said the Assembly had on December 19, 2019 passed a resolution urging the Centre to implement ILP to check unabated influx into the state but the Centre is buying time by saying it is still studying and examining the resolution.
Marngar lamented that the Centre granted ILP to Manipur in 2019 but not to Meghalaya. Stating that the KSU is firm on the demand, he said there is still a ray of hope as there are youth ready to raise their voice for the indigenous tribal community.
“We will wait and watch for how long the Centre continues to deny ILP to the people of the state,” Marngar said.
Earlier, the KSU members laid wreaths at the bust of its former president near the Shillong Law College, Dhankheti. Lyngdoh was the KSU president between 1984 and 1989.
Marngar recalled that there were accusations against Lyngdoh when he was leading the KSU that he was a person who liked to instigate and create trouble. Now that he is no more, the same people who criticised him are saying it is difficult to get a leader like him, the KSU president said.
He recalled that as the president of the union, Lyngdoh had dedicated all his time and energy for the protection of the indigenous tribal community.
“The former president was committed and determined to fight for the protection of his own people. He never gave up despite being put inside jail and cases were registered against him,” Marngar said.
He said Lyngdoh’s sacrifices made in the interest of the indigenous tribal community will always be remembered.
