Shillong, Aug 6: Meghalaya Education Minister, Rakkam A Sangma, on Tuesday said helping people of the State’s indigenous communities, who are residents of Bangladesh, should be based on humanitarian grounds and not religion.
He was referring to the Khasi-Pnar and Garo community residing in Bangladesh, which is currently witnessing violence and unrest.
“We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Supposed…tomorrow all Khasi-Jaintia and Garo citizens living along the border inside the Bangladesh, if any untoward incidents happened, yes, definitely they will try to take refuge in our country and our state, and I think we should explore the possibilities should we say no or should we help them on humanitarian ground that is to be decided by government of India,” Sangma told reporters.
As for his personal opinion, the minister said, “I feel we should not go by religion. There are many Garos, who are not Hindus, they are Christians. There are many Khasi and Jaintia, who are Christians or non-Christians. If we decide by religion, yes one may get help while others will not. I personally feel if they belong to ST, forget about religion, helping people should not be based on what religion you follow. Humanitarian ground does not have any consideration based on religion. I am not talking about religion but for people from our community; if situation arises, yes definitely as individual we have to find a way.”
He said it is natural to have soft corner for people from the same tribe or community. “We don’t know what religion they follow but they are from same community.”
Sangma said that the prevailing situation in Bangladesh is definitely going to directly affect the community, who are inside and outside Bangladesh. “So, we have to find a way (on) how if situation arises, on humanitarian ground as a state government, as a central government, as individual, every individual has to take a call on this,” he said.
Also Read: BSF Meghalaya intensifies vigilance on border amidst Bangladesh unrest
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