SHILLONG, JULY 17: The Khasi indigenous people on Sunday paid rich tribute to the legendary freedom fighter – U Tirot Sing Syiem, who rebelled against the British Empire –on his 187th death anniversary.

In Shillong, leaders of the anti-influx groups including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) and others lay floral wreaths and observed a minute of silence in front of the statue of the freedom fighter at Madan Iewrynghep (Fire Brigade) here.

The plague stone on the foot of the statue constructed by the KSU had on it writings about U Tirot Sing Syiem which described him as – “The bravest of the Khasis who loved his land the most, who served the best; sacred in our hearts.”

Addressing the occasion, KSU chief Lambokstarwell Marngar slammed the state government for its failure to push for immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.

“The state government seems to be contended just because it has passed an official resolution for implementation of the ILP. Therefore, we want to tell all the elected representatives not to play with the issue as it is their duty to fulfill this long pending aspiration of the people of the state,” he said.

Asserting that the fight will continue to ensure the ILP demand is achieved, Marngar said, “I urge let us come out from this place and be the law to protect the our land and our people.”

Stating that there other several issues which was taken up with the government since 2018, KSU chief however said that it is very unfortunate that most of the demands end only in the four walls of the secretariat.

‘Govt recruitment and thieves’

“We have asked the government to come up with a law that will ensure transparency in the job recruitment process but till date nothing has been done in this regard despite (allegations) that corruption is rampant in the job recruitment in the various departments of the government,” he stated.

Expressing concern that theft cases are on the rise in the state, Marngar however alleged that “the thieves in the secretariat and different government departments are more dangerous as they deprive the educated youth of their rights to get job through a free and fair system.”

“An unemployed youth who went to apply for job was asked to pay bribe – is that not corruption?” he asked.

“Therefore, it is high time for the government to come up with a dedicated cell to deal with corruption in the job recruitment process as it is the government’s duty to provide corruption free system by coming up with such strong laws,” Marngar said while asserting “it is not duty of the legislators to sit in the secretariat or assembly and worry about what tender is being processed or where to set up gates for collection; their duty is to come up with effective laws to protect the interest and rights of the people and the state.”

He also warned against such corrupt government officials and asked them not to play with the issues concerning the indigenous people.

No room for CAA

In his speech, FKJGP president Dundee C Khongsit said the NGOs in the state will never allow the government to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state of Meghalaya.

“We cannot allow illegal immigrants and influx to outnumber our microscopic population,” he said.

Vote for President with ‘conditions’

Ahead of the presidential election to be held on Monday, Khongsit also urged all the 60 legislators and MPs from the state to vote for the new president with conditions.

“We urge them to vote with conditions to ensure that the new president of country will take up issues concerning the tribal people seriously,” he said adding that the demands of the tribal people for effective laws to protect them are geniune and not beyond the Constitution of India.

Meanwhile, leaders of the United Democratic Party (UDP), members of the Syiemlieh Clan and other NGOs and political parties also paid rich tribute to the legendary freedom fighter.

U Tirot Sing, a tribal Khasi chief of Nongkhlaw Kingdom, was the first tribal Khasi ruler to rebel against the British Empire in 1829.

On January 13, 1833, the British forces treacherously captured him and kept him in captivity at Dhaka where he died on July 17, 1835.