The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO) will hold a protest on January 21, which is Meghalaya’s statehood day, on a range of issues.
Speaking to reporters after a COMSO meeting, its Chairman, Robertjune Kharjahrin, said that the protest will focus on several issues, such as the decades-long border dispute with Assam, the non-inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the Them Ïew Mawlong issue in Shillong and the demand for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
Kharjahrin, however, refused to divulge the nature of the protest.
“The state has achieved its 49 years of statehood but there are no laws which will protect the indigenous people,” the COMSO Chairman said despite all legislation that exists against Benami, land transfer to non-tribals and a whole host of district council acts.
Kharjahrin also expressed surprise that Governor Satya Pal Malik wants to discuss the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill 2020 with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, despite it being a state subject. It has been reported in the past that Malik said he will have to consult New Delhi on the matter as it had been referred to the ministry by his predecessor.
COMSO’s leader also claimed that the Residents Act would not be able to protect the indigenous people of Meghalaya from the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but ILP could.
