SHILLONG, May 7: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Saturday threatened to resume the movement against the Centre’s bid to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) besides pressing for the inner-line permit system in Meghalaya.
“We will reactivate the movement and make the central government understand the sentiments of the people and implement the ILP in the state,” KSU president Lambokstar Marngnar said.
He was reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the CAA will be implemented in the country after the pandemic ends.
Marngar said the opposition to the CAA would continue, pandemic or no pandemic.
“In place of CAA, we want the Centre to approve the resolution passed by the state government for the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya,” he said.
Stating that for decades the state has faced the problem of illegal immigrants, he said, “We want a mechanism to regulate and filter the illegal immigrants entering the state, not one to facilitate their entry.”
“We hope the Centre will respect and listen to the voice of the people of the state and the rest of the Northeast that has strongly opposed the CAA,” Marngar said, adding that New Delhi should understand the problems faced by the region’s indigenous communities.
On the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PAC) seeking a larger railway network in Meghalaya, he said, “Our stand is very clear. We will discuss the railways after the ILP is implemented. As of now, we are totally opposed to the railways.”
Marngar also said the Centre has been insulting the people of Meghalaya with its standard line on the ILP issue: “We are examining the matter.”
He said the KSU has been holding consultations with the Syiems and headmen on resuming the pro-ILP agitation.
He urged the 60 MLAs of the state to pursue the matter aggressively with the Centre.
