By Bhogtoram Mawroh
In the last couple of weeks, the verification drive conducted by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) to check the paperwork of migrant workers has resulted in multiple assaults on them. In response, the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, came out with the statement that migrant workers do not need a permit to work in the state but only registration, which is done by the Labour department. This process, he claimed, was started during the previous term of the MDA to ensure safety and to keep a full database of all those who enter the state to work on various projects. This claim has been contested by the pressure groups, including the KSU, who argue that a work permit is required by law for migrant workers who are entering the state. Maybe the Government is trying to wash its hands of the fact that migrant workers have entered illegally under their watch; however, the assault and the public shaming that took place during the verification drive are not something that can be called legal by any means.
First, let’s talk about the public incident that took place with a picture circulating in the local media channel of two migrant labourers holding a piece of paper where it was written, “We can enter Meghalaya because it’s one of the non-ILP states in North East India,” and, “I may be a Bangladeshi who knows me.” Later on, the faces of the two migrant labourers were blurred, but by then, screenshots had already been shared on many social media platforms. Both of these signs are highly objectionable. This is a typical case of racial profiling of a certain group of people based on their ethnicity. How different is this when people from the North East (including from Meghalaya) are targeted because of their physical affinity with populations from East and South East Asia? Does it mean that if a Khasi is similarly targeted in the mainland and made to hold a paper that says, “I am a Chinese and I speak Ching Chong,” we will be okay with it? During the COVID-19 pandemic, people from the North East were refused accommodation because it was thought the virus came from China. For people who themselves have suffered racial discrimination, it’s quite ironic that we are doing the same to others.
The argument against this would be that Khasi, or people from the North East, are not illegal immigrants. The reporting on the story of the public shaming also mentions that the migrants were from Nepal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. India has a special treaty with Nepal, and Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are part of India. So, these migrants were not illegal. One can argue that without the work permit, they should not have been allowed to work on the projects. But to brand them illegal migrants (i.e., Bangladeshis) and publicly shaming them is a hate crime. Maybe that’s why the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission has asked for a report on the incident. Will that stop such incidents in the future?
Staying with public shaming, there have been complaints that the Government is quick to share pictures when a Khasi is arrested for some crime but does not do so when a non-Khasi is arrested. This is claimed to be an example of step-motherly treatment against the Khasi, who are being victimized because they are from the local community. I think the Ggovernment should not publish any pictures of anyone, whether those arrested are Khasi or non-Khasi. While not condoning any crime, there is always a possibility that a criminal may want to leave the past behind and start a new life. But that can become difficult if your face is out there in the public, which in this day and age of social media will be available to everyone. The public humiliation can also be difficult for family members who have nothing to do with the crime and would like anonymity. But if a pressure group like the KSU, which has accused the Government of always arresting their members on dodgy charges, also engages in public shaming their victims, can they have any moral authority for protesting when the police do it to them? Can their supporters also claim moral high ground on this?
The other issue is about the actual assaults. One might argue that the pressure groups had to step in to verify the papers because the government was not doing its job. In short, they were doing a public service. Let’s accept that for the moment. But how is assaulting someone an example of public service? The ‘illegal migrants’ (of which no one is sure) could have been handed over to the police, or they could have been escorted to the border, warning them not to come in again without proper papers. That would still have been fine, but assaulting them is highly condemnable. Apart from being illegal, some people have warned that this could backfire on the Khasis who are staying outside. The Chief Engineer who was assaulted warned that such incidents could cause hatred against the locals who are working outside the state. He stated that “If an organized group attacks an Indian citizen here, what message does it send? Does the KSU president never travel beyond Byrnihat? Is he trying to incite others to retaliate against him outside the state?” I think it was an irresponsible statement, but he was upset, and one can understand his anger. But will such incidents lead to backlash against the Khasis outside the state?
In July 2012, violence broke out in Assam between Bodo and Bengali Muslims, leading to the deaths of at least 108 people, and over 400,000 were displaced. But the violence was not limited to Assam. In Andhra Pradesh, two labourers from the North East were attacked while traveling on the Ernakulam Express, with one later dying of his wounds. People from Nagaland and Assam were also attacked in Bangalore. In Pune, a software professional from Manipur was beaten by miscreants. Labourers from the North East working in Kerala were also asked to leave the state or face dire consequences. There were innumerable SMSs and MMSs circulating, inciting hatred against the people from the region. This led to a mass exodus of people, with Bangalore alone seeing 30,000 people flee in fear of retaliation. If the assault on migrant labourers continues, will this also happen to the Khasis staying outside? What if what the Chief Engineer says is correct?
For the moment, let’s assume that such retaliations don’t happen. Actually, I think it won’t happen, at least not yet. On the other hand, the assault on migrant labourers is not a new thing. The Government has promised action, but except for Mariahom Kharkrang from the BJP and Vincent Pala from the Congress, not much has been heard from other political leaders. I can understand why. Many of the leaders in different political parties have a history of being in different pressure groups. So, condemning them would be betraying what they actually believed in at one point in time (they may still believe it even now). Secondly, the government might feel that common people (i.e., the local Khasi population) support the actions of the pressure groups. All members of the pressure group are from the local populace, and in many ways, they reflect what common people believe on the ground. So, while the Government may not always do what the people want, they will not do what the people don’t want. After all, they might lose votes if they go against the wishes of the people. But this actually means that the Government is abdicating its responsibility and, especially, asking the law and order machinery to stand down. If there’s no retaliation against the Khasis outside the state and the actions of the pressure groups, who represent the common people, are condoned, isn’t it a perfect situation then? Not exactly!
The problem is that when a culture of impunity and lack of accountability is encouraged, it does not only remain limited to issues of the jaidbynriew. The culture spreads throughout the whole system. There’s always a complaint that the governance in Meghalaya is rife with corruption and the state is not doing its duty to provide for its citizens. It’s the reason why the state is one of the poorest in the country, and its once-famed educational infrastructure is in a bad state. Forget about the health and sporting infrastructure, which is also in a very dilapidated condition. Does this lack of accountability from the state towards its citizens disconnect from the lack of accountability discussed above? Or are they both related? I believe they are connected. Let’s give an example. If I am a government servant who knows that there are certain issues for which I am not supposed to be accountable, why shouldn’t I follow the same rule elsewhere as well? It actually makes my life much easier. Imagine that everyone is following this logic because they know that there’s a culture of impunity that has been sanctioned by the people. And the Government, the one enforcing the rules, always listens to the people, especially when votes are at stake.
Of course, people would immediately respond angrily that this is not what they want. They support the pressure groups and want the government to go easy on them, but in other cases, they want the Government to do its duty. So, it’s like a Jekyll and Hyde kind of situation. Maybe someone can reply to this article by citing examples where societies that practice a lack of accountability and impunity in certain situations are still able to have an efficient system that is nevertheless accountable and looks after the welfare of the people it considers its own. Then I will accept that the connection I am trying to make is flawed. Till then, I believe that it’s difficult to compartmentalize governance in such a way that it is accountable in some areas but not elsewhere. When the rot takes root in one part, it spreads to the entire system.
Whether it’s a democracy, autocracy, or monarchy, the system is what the people want it to be. The same applies for Meghalaya. If a lack of accountability and a culture of impunity are what the people want, we will get them, and we will have to learn to live with them. In the end, we all get what we deeply desire, whether we like it or not.
(The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not reflect in any way his affiliation to any organization or institution)