SHILLONG: In a decisive escalation, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Central Executive Council has submitted a formal representation to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, issuing a strict 15-day ultimatum to address a wide range of long-pending demands.
KSU General Secretary Reuben Najiar announced in Shillong that the Union will launch state-wide agitations if the government fails to take immediate action within the stipulated timeframe. The ultimatum follows outrage over alleged repressive measures and violence during the recent Shree Cement Limited public hearing in East Jaintia Hills.
The KSU expressed deep anger over the conduct of the East Jaintia Hills district administration, local police, and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) during the July 31 public hearing.
The Union accused state authorities of yielding to corporate interests and colluding with local mafias to silence public opposition.
Citing a series of grave incidents—including tear gas shelling, pre-hearing arrests of NGO leaders, damaged vehicles, stone pelting, and deliberate road blockades at Ladtonseng—the KSU demanded the immediate cancellation of the public hearing.
The Union also called for strict departmental action, including suspension or termination, against the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and MSPCB officials involved.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the KSU’s representation addressed critical issues of state security and influx, firmly rejecting recent remarks by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong regarding the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
The KSU called for the immediate implementation of the long-delayed Inner Line Permit (ILP) under the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation, 1873, and insisted that the MRSSA be enforced alongside the construction of physical facilitation centers—entry and exit check posts—across the state.
The Union categorically rejected proposed online tenant verification systems, demanding that tenant verification remain under the traditional jurisdiction of local Dorbar Shnongs, and urged the government to provide a clear implementation schedule with weekly progress reports.
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The KSU further criticized government inaction on labor and health sector concerns, highlighting the failure to implement the 2024 amendments to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, despite cabinet approval almost two years ago.
To combat illegal migrant labor, the Union called for mandatory police verification, rigorous background checks, and strict legal penalties.
The KSU also demanded fulfillment of earlier assurances regarding recruitment at NEIGRIHMS, specifically state intervention with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to guarantee an 80:20 female-to-male nursing ratio and revised quotas for indigenous tribals.
On governance and recruitment reforms, the Union insisted on structural changes to root out systemic corruption.
Referring to Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines, the KSU urged the immediate abolition of personal interviews for Group B (non-gazetted), Group C, and Group D posts, full compliance with the “MPSC Reform Committee 2025” recommendations, and the restriction of state employment advertisements to genuine Meghalaya residents.
The Union demanded swift adoption of its 15-point charter of demands to reform District Selection Committees (DSC) across the state.
(4FrontMedia news)
