SHILLONG, DEC 31: In a passionate tribute to the Jaintia legendary freedom fighter U Kiang Nangbah on his 163rd death anniversary, president of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) Lambokstarwell Marngar has slammed the Centre for delaying to implement the inner line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
Speaking at a commemorative event, Marngar highlighted the historical significance of Nangbah’s resistance against British colonial rule, drawing parallels to contemporary challenges.
He stated, “The British Empire hanged U Kiang Nangbah, but now external forces and traitors are trying to hang the entire indigenous community.”
He emphasized the urgent need for effective legal protections, particularly the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya. He recalled that on December 19, 2019, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to extend ILP to the state.
“When we demand effective laws from the Government of India, especially the implementation of the Inner Line Permit, even the state government on 19 December 2019 had unanimously passed a resolution with the support of all 60 legislators to urge the Centre to implement ILP in Meghalaya,” Marngar said.
“Sadly, instead of implementing ILP, the Centre has come up with laws that are against the interests of indigenous people.”
He criticized the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), asserting that it facilitates illegal immigration into the North‑East, and pointed to recent incidents of violence against Christians during Christmas celebrations as evidence of systemic disregard for minority rights.
“You remember while the ILP demand was at its peak, the Centre passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which paved the way for illegal immigration to enter the NE region. We have seen atrocities against Christians during Christmas celebrations across the country. This shows that the Centre, on one hand, is expressing concern, but on the other hand, is trying to trample upon the rights of indigenous people.”
Marngar questioned the legitimacy of Indian citizenship for indigenous communities if the government continues its current policies, stressing the importance of customary laws, traditions, and culture.
“If the Government of India continues to be like this, I feel it is time for us, the indigenous community, to go back to documents and ask whether we really are Indian citizens. We cannot deny the fact that we have our own customary law, tradition, and culture.”
He also addressed broader issues affecting the state, including border disputes, education, and employment, and criticized state leaders for neglecting public welfare in favor of political interests.
“We recently went to meet residents of the Block I area, and they expressed that the state government is turning a blind eye to their plight. From time to time, we have requested the government to ensure accessibility to education in the state. We question what the leaders of the state have done for the welfare of the people.”
Marngar concluded with a call for accountability from elected officials, urging them to prioritize legislation over political drama and to focus on future generations.
“We have elected them to legislate, not to create political drama. It seems that they only think about their political interest and not the welfare of the people. They spend their time thinking about the next election, not about the next generation.”
