Shillong, Dec 30: Observing the 158th death anniversary of freedom fighter Kiang Nangbah in Shillong on Wednesday, president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Lambokstarwell Marngar has reiterated that their demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) remains unchanged and further slammed the Meghalaya government accusing it of not being serious over the Them Metor conflict that occurred in 2018.
Speaking at the anniversary observance of the Khasi freedom fighter Kiang Nangbah he said, “We do not demand a separate flag, we do not demand a separate constitution, we demand ILP in Meghalaya.”
Asserting that if the public representatives are not serious he warned, “They should know what will happen in the future”.
Raising the contentious Them Metor issue, the KSU chief accused the state government of failing to have the political will to resolve and pursue the matter. “The Them Metor issue is still pending and it ends in discussions in the High-Level Committee,” said Marngar.
Endorsing the statement of the president, the vice-president of KSU Central Executive Council (CEC) Biangbor Paliar also demanded that the need of the hour is for strong laws to protect the interest of the indigenous people who he said are a minority population. He further warned that the pressure groups will ensure the Khasi community does not become enslaved as in the days of British rule.
‘Entry and exit point at Umling not sufficient’
Expressing dissatisfaction with the entry and exit points set up by the government at Umling, president of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Wellbirth Rani, raised concern and demanded more of such checkpoints ought to be set up at every important location.
“We have every right to demand the Inner Line Permit (ILP). The state government should go to Delhi with a demand for ILP as a means to protect our land. We have also taken part in the fight for freedom and have every right to demand” said Rani.
He clarified that the entry point at Umling cannot suffice because such similar entry and exit points need to be established in the Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills region, too.
He warned that this coming year the groups will intensify their agitation and the government has to be serious about making such points functional.
