By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 11: Black flags and banners appeared across the city on Thursday as the KSU marked the sixth anniversary of the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019.
The protest was part of a coordinated action by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), of which KSU is a constituent member. NESO called for black flags and banners to be hoisted at prominent locations across all seven northeastern states to reaffirm opposition to the CAA, which it views as a threat to the rights, identity, and demographic balance of indigenous communities.
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar told reporters that the display of black symbols underscored the union’s unwavering opposition to the Act.
“This is in continuation of the Black Day observance initiated by NESO,” he said, recalling that December 11 was declared Black Day in 2019 following the Act’s passage despite widespread protests in the region.
Marngar said governments had ignored the concerns raised by student bodies and civil society at the time. He reiterated KSU’s fears that the CAA could facilitate greater migrant influx into the Northeast, a region already grappling with demographic pressures and illegal immigration.
“We have seen the dangers of large-scale influx over decades, not just in Meghalaya but across the region,” he added, noting the state’s long porous border with Bangladesh, frequent apprehensions of infiltrators by the BSF, and recent police arrests.
Even states protected by the Inner Line Permit (ILP), such as Nagaland and Manipur, feel insecure under the CAA, Marngar pointed out. “If they remain vulnerable despite ILP, imagine our position without such safeguards.”
The observance, he said, reminds everyone of the ongoing risks the CAA poses to Meghalaya’s indigenous people.
In a related development, the KSU reiterated its warning to the state government against pushing railway connectivity in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills without first enacting robust laws to protect the indigenous population.
Speaking on the same day, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar referenced the 2017 Byrnihat protests, where 33 KSU members were arrested opposing railway expansion.
“We will address the railway issue in detail later, but if the government tries to forcibly introduce rail lines into Hynniewtrep land, we warn them of serious consequences,” he said.
He criticised politicians for advocating rail links while ignoring security and demographic concerns, urging them to prioritise protective legislation.
Non-indigenous settlements in border areas have grown alarmingly, he noted, with newcomers easily obtaining documents and voting rights after brief stays—a grave threat to the community.
