SHILLONG: As the 73rd Plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) progressed, members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) staged a demonstration today along the roadsides, holding placards and banners to voice their long-pending demands to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who was attending the summit.
The primary objective of this protest was to remind the Central Government of issues that have been sidelined for years, especially the demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to protect the state of Meghalaya, which the Center has failed to approve to date.
This demonstration formed a continuous human chain extending from Damsite to the U Kiang Nangbah monument towards the Civil Hospital area, among other locations.
Through these banners, the KSU members clearly expressed their demands regarding the security of the indigenous population and the environment.
They questioned the Central Government’s stance, pointing out that if the Government of India could grant ILP to Manipur, its silence on Meghalaya remains baffling. They clarified that ILP is not an anti-development measure, but rather a fundamental right for citizens to protect themselves and curb illegal immigration. The youth leaders of the KSU maintained that their struggle will continue until the ILP is successfully implemented to secure the future of the state.
Apart from the immigration issue, another critical matter highlighted on the placards was the staunch opposition to uranium mining. The union expressed through their slogans that mining should sustain life rather than bring death, demanding an immediate halt to all uranium-related activities in Meghalaya.
They strongly condemned any moves toward mining, stating that the citizens deserve clean water rather than radioactive waste, and asserted that the KSU will consistently oppose any uranium exploration in the state.
Furthermore, during the demonstration, protesters expressed deep concern over the Shillong Cantonment Board, alleging land encroachment and injustice against the local people.
They highlighted that even after 54 years of attaining statehood, Meghalaya still lacks a concrete, well-defined boundary. Additionally, the union raised objections against the current recruitment practices at NEIGRIHMS, stating on their banners that the premier institute should not be turned into a “dustbin” for male nurses, emphasizing instead the state’s requirement for highly qualified local nurses to ensure better healthcare.
The KSU members raised these intense slogans today to catch the attention of the Union Home Minister, urging him to immediately address these core issues impacting the state’s future.
