SHILLONG: A delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) was on a two-day visit to Aizawl to meet the leaders of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a students’ body, and discuss issues faced by Khasi residents in Khasi Veng, Vairengte, in Kolasib district.
In a statement issued here, publicity secretary of the union Rapborlang Nongrum recalled that in 2008, the KSU and the MZP as well as the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Shillong, arrived at an understanding pertaining to the harassment of Khasis in Vairengte when their arecanut plantation was destroyed by people from other communities.
In the same year, there was a demand to issue Land Holding Certificates (LHC) to all Khasis residing in Mizoram, however, the union said after 11 years, the Mizoram regard them as outsiders since they were not issued LHC.
In a meeting at the MZP headquarters, KSU general secretary, Donald Thabah argued that the Khasis in Vairengte have the right to get the LHC as they have settled in the state since 1936.
Thabah pointed out that there are 70 households in Vairangte and there is no influx of Khasis from Barak Valley of Assam and Meghalaya to Mizoram which will affect the Mizo population. In this connection, he urged the MZP to assist the Khasi community in Mizoram in getting their rights.
The KSU team went to Aizawl on Tuesday.
As part of their agreement with the union, MZP assured that the Khasis in Vairangte would not be denied land documents.
Further, the MZP assured the union to meet the land revenue minister of Mizoram in the coming days with a demand to issue LHC to the 70 Khasi households in Khasi Veng, Vairengte.
Other than Thabah, others who visited Mizoram are Rapborlang Nongrum (publicity secretary), Pynkmenlang Sanmiet (president, KSU-NEHU Unit), Pynshai Kupar Dkhar (general secretary, KSU NEHU Unit) and others.
The representatives from MZP were led by president L. Ramdinliana Renthlei, general secretary Lalnunmawia Pautu among others.
After the meeting, the union visited Khasi Veng, Vairengte to elect new office bearers of the KSU unit there.
