‘Verbal assurances can no longer be trusted’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 27: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has asked the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government to issue a clear, written commitment on measures to curb influx and protect the identity and land rights of indigenous people, stating that verbal assurances alone can no longer be trusted.
KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah said the union could not rely on verbal statements, as “anybody can give those,” and stressed that the organisation wanted to see a concrete plan “in black and white.”
He expressed hope that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma would soon come out with a firm, documented proposal on laws meant to safeguard indigenous identity, ownership of land and to prevent illegal immigration into the state.
Thabah said the government had earlier informed the KSU that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) would either be amended or strengthened with additional clauses to deal with influx.
According to him, the union expected the government to deliver something substantial in the coming days to reassure citizens that steps were being taken to secure the rights of the indigenous population.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s recent hint that a new law—possibly aligned with MRSSA protections—might be introduced, Thabah said the KSU would not comment until it examines the full content of the proposed law.
He said the union would need to scrutinise each clause and sub-clause to determine whether any amended or new act could genuinely operate as an effective shield against influx. Without studying the entire text, it would not be possible to offer an informed opinion, he said.
Thabah’s remarks came a day after the Chief Minister addressed fresh concerns raised by pressure groups over illegal immigration.
Sangma said the government had activated multiple layers of vigilance to prevent any influx and argued that its long-standing seriousness on the matter was reflected in the laws enacted and the surveillance mechanisms strengthened over the years. He said the state was also studying new national-level laws to assess how they might be applied in Meghalaya to reinforce existing safeguards.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that illegal immigration remained an ongoing challenge, which is why, he said, close coordination with local organisations and village authorities continued to be a priority for the government.
