By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 11: Black flags across key locations in the state capital, put up by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) under the banner of the North East Students’ Union (NESO) on Wednesday, marked the fifth anniversary of the passage of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), marking it as ‘Black Day.’
The flags, which were put up in areas such as Khyndai Lad, Motphran and Civil Hospital junction, carried messages critical of the CAA, with inscriptions such as “NDA Govt Stop appeasing immigrants protect the microscopic indigenous communities of the NE” and “By implementing CAA, NDA Govt shows preference on immigrants over indigenous communities of NE.”
Tensions prevailed momentarily when KSU members confronted police personnel who had removed black flags put up in the Polo area.
The police said they were acting on directives and claimed they were unaware that the flags had been placed by the KSU. However, the KSU insisted that the flags be reinstated.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the NESO reminded the people of the Northeast of the events of December 11, 2019, when, despite widespread opposition from indigenous communities, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed in the Rajya Sabha, becoming the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
“The Government of India did not pay heed and it finally through the Rajya Sabha passed the Draconian Law which is known as Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019,” it stated.
“NESO has declared that the 11th December will always be remembered as a Black Day for the whole of the North East,” stated the organisation.
It may be mentioned that NESO is an umbrella organisation comprises the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), representing eight major student movements across the seven Northeastern states.