Shillong, Mar 26: It goes against the ideals of a secular country for a song with religious lyrics to be sung in public places, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) said of Vande Mataram, the national song.
The KSU today met Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed and submitted a memorandum urging the government’s intervention in the pressure group’s various demands.
The union condemned the directions issued by the Directorate of Arts and Culture, following a directive from the central government, that school students be required to sing Vande Mataram.
The KSU stated that it strongly opposed this direction as the song contains references to Hindu goddesses, which are not suitable for mandatory singing by all faiths in a secular country.
The KSU reminded the Chief Secretary of their demands relating to recruitment in NEIGRIHMS – demanding 80:20 female to male nursing ratios, revised reservation quotas for the indigenous tribals, recruitment examinations to be conducted by NEIGRIHMS itself and various other demands.
According to the organisation, the state cabinet on August 3, 2024 approved the amendments to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act 2020 but till date it has not been put into effect. These amendments were to strengthen the regulation of migrant labourers, make registration mandatory and impose fines and imprisonment for violators.
The KSU also pointed out that it had submitted a 15-point charter to the government, highlighting irregularities in District Selection Committees (DSC) and seeking transparency. The union’s suggestions, which include declaring cut-off marks and abolishing personal interviews, were reportedly ignored. The union claims current DSC results are flawed, with allegations of nepotism and corruption.
The union also requested the Chief Secretary to direct the authorities to speed up the process to file a concrete report in regard to these two-revenue lands – Mahadev Khola and Maxwelton Estate and evict the illegal settlers from these areas.
It threatened agitation and taking the law into its own hands if the government did to accede to its demands.
