Shillong, Sept 25: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday submitted a 6-point memorandum to the Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar requesting his intervention for immediate implementation of the inner line permit (ILP), repealing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, exemption from the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, 1950, resolving border dispute and establishment of a permanent Central Agricultural University in the state.

Inner Line Permit 

KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah, in the memorandum, highlighted the steps taken by the union to call the attention of the Centre on the need to implement the ILP in Meghalaya. However, till date the KSU and the public are yet to receive any positive response from the Central Government which puts everyone in an anxious and apprehensive state.

“…the regions under Meghalaya were integral components of the BEFR 1873 since its inception. Therefore…(we) humbly appeals to your esteemed office to kindly facilitate from your end to include the state of Meghalaya under the purview of the BEFR 1873 or the ILP mechanism like Manipur,” Thabah said while adding that implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya would promote the survival, progress, and security of the ethnic indigenous tribes of the state and it would also ensure peace and tranquillity amongst the peace-loving citizens of the state.

According to him, the state of Meghalaya is slowly becoming like Tripura and Assam where indigenous communities are being overwhelmed by migrant communities.

Repeal of CAA, 2019 

Demanding the immediate repeal of the CAA, 2019, as it seeks to grant citizenship to all migrants from neighbouring countries, Thabah said this will have a detrimental effect on the fragile demographic balance of the State.

He said already, Meghalaya is bearing the brunt of massive illegal immigration since the onset of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 till date adding the intrusion of hordes of migrants into the region since 1971 from Bangladesh has led to a series of unfortunate tensions between the indigenous inhabitants and the migrants.

He clarified that the KSU by demanding the repeal of the said Amendment is in no way against any particular religion or community, but its primary concern is the threat of gradual annihilation of the microscopic indigenous tribal communities in the face of larger immigrating communities especially from Bangladesh irrespective of caste, community or religion.

Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950 

Further, the KSU leader said the union also requests the Governor to take up with the Centre for exempting Meghalaya from the purview of the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, 1950.

“Similar to the CAA, the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950 which permits Nepali citizens to acquire immediate Indian citizenship without any conditions has had serious ramifications in the state of Meghalaya. Since the 1980s, Meghalaya has seen a surge in the Nepali population in the state which poses a threat to the miniscule tribal population of the state leading to unwanted conflicts between the two groups. The immigrant Nepali community is also creating problems in the bordering areas of Meghalaya challenging the indigenous tribal rights to their land and state,” he stated.

Border dispute with Assam

Calling for immediate resolution to the border dispute with Assam, Thabah said, “The KSU therefore seeks your guidance to both Governments to ensure that the disputed areas which falls under the jurisdiction of the tribal Khasi chiefs, should be included under the territory of Meghalaya.”

Meghalaya shares about 900 kilometres of border with Assam.

Since the inception of Meghalaya in 1972 after being carved out of Assam, there has been claims and counter claims of territories along the border regions of both the states.

“This led to an animosity between the citizens of the two states which also, unfortunately cost the lives of many innocents,” Thabah said while adding that there are numerous areas of difference with Assam, prominent amongst them are Langpih, Block I, Block II, Khanduli, Psiar, Moolber, Moojem, Sabuda, Nongwah-Mawtamur, etc. which are part and parcel of Meghalaya as they fall under the jurisdiction of the traditional institutions of the Khasi Chiefs.”

He said the creation of Meghalaya as a state is to fulfil the aspirations of the tribals in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills for self-governance, self-determination, tribal empowerment and development.

Inclusion of Khasi language in 8th Schedule 

On the language issue, the KSU general secretary said the appeal to include the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule is a genuine demand which had been raised before the Government of India since the 1960s notably by the Khasi Authors’ Society. The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) had also put forth its requests since 1992 for inclusion of the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule. The Government of Meghalaya has adopted a resolution seeking the incorporation of the language in the 8th Schedule in 2018.

“The KSU therefore once again humbly appeals your office to kindly facilitate the much-needed inclusion of the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule so as to ensure that the language survives in all aspects and continues to progress especially in academic perspective,” he said.

Central Agricultural University in Meghalaya

Meanwhile, the KSU also requested the Governor to address and ensure that the promised Central Agricultural University in Meghalaya will become a reality.

In 2010 the then Central Government under the Ministry of Agriculture had approved the establishment of a centrally funded Agricultural University in the state of Meghalaya at a 200 acres site located in Kyrdemkulai, Ri Bhoi district.

Accordingly, an agreement was reached between the Central Government and the Government of Meghalaya under Entry 64 of the Union List I in the same year whereby a plot of land measuring 200 acres was acquired by the Government of Meghalaya in Kyrdemkulai, Ri-Bhoi District for setting up of the said University.

“The KSU fervently appeals to you that in your tenure at as the Governor of Meghalaya you will do justice to the long-awaited aspirations of the indigenous tribals of the state by fulfilling the above-mentioned issues,” Thabah stated in the memorandum.

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