Union members erect infiltration check gate at Ranikor; claim Congress-led govt had implemented work permit system
MAWKYRWAT/ SHILLONG, July 16: Promising to continue their vigil against influx and illegal immigration, the Khasi Students’ Union on Tuesday lambasted Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for falsely claiming that there is no work permit system in Meghalaya, even as they accused the chief minister of trying to mislead the people.
KSU Ranikor Circle president, Marconi Thongni reminded the chief minister about the “Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation & Employment and Condition of Services) Act, 1979 (work permit) that was implemented in Meghalaya in 2011 by the then Congress-led government.
“This is a message to the chief minister: enough is enough. We have seen that you are trying to shield the people from outside and oppressing the indigenous people. But the union will always stand in your way, and come what may, we will not allow that to happen,” Thongni asserted.
The union continued to put pressure on the state government on their demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya, by erecting an ILP infiltration check gate at Ranikor in South West Khasi Hills to prevent the entry of suspected illegal migrants into the state.
Thongni said the KSU took the decision to erect the ILP infiltration check gate after seeing the lack of seriousness on the part of the government towards their demand for implementation of ILP in Meghalaya.
Thongni also said that the union will continue to check for work permits in the district and made it clear that all illegal migrants who have entered the district without proper documents will be sent back to where they came from.
Meanwhile, the KSU West Khasi Hills along with the KSU Rambrai circle detected 26 migrant workers without work permits on Tuesday.
The migrant workers were engaged in the Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai road project, undertaken by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and implemented by a private firm Spica.
Not only this, the KSU members also detected six migrant workers who could not provide any valid documents to show that they are genuine Indian citizens.
The KSU warned the contractors of West Khasi Hills region to ensure that any migrant worker they have hired should obtain the work permit.
KSU WKHDU organising secretary Wanbhakupar L Nonglait and KSU Rambrai circle vice president Pynbiangbor Basaiawmoit said they will not hesitate to take drastic steps if the contractors fail to obtain work permits of migrant workers they hire.
Both the KSU leaders also urged the state government to put pressure on the Centre to implement the ILP and MRSSA to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants and influx.