Shillong, Mar 10: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has expressed concerns over the recent events in Garo Hills and said the incident is a significant wake-up call for the Meghalaya government.
KSU President Lambokstarwell Marngar said the situation stems from a long history of negligence by both the present and past governments.
He said that pressure groups of the state all along have been demanding from the state government to implement laws like ILP to safeguard the indigenous people of Meghalaya from the unabated influx of outsiders.
The KSU president said that the lackadaisical attitude of those in power has resulted in a growing number of non-tribal settlers, interfering into the rights of the indigenous people of Meghalaya. “They are not only interfering but are showing their power,” he said.
The KSU president said that the pressure groups of the state are demanding to strengthen the institution of district councils but on many occasions those in power turn a blind eye.
“We have to point fingers to those who are holding the reins of power who are not listening to our demands thereby leading to this situation,” Marngar added.
He also said that the KSU stands in solidarity with the pressure groups in the Garo Hills region.
Similarly, Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) President Roy Kupar Synrem pointed out that the plight of the indigenous Garos is a reflection of decades of mismanagement and failure by past leaders, who have allowed illegal immigrants to dominate the demography.
He said the indigenous Garo population has been outnumbered in the plain belt region. “The danger signs all have seen but what is happening now is the bursting of the tension which has been there for years,” he said.
Synrem also wondered how non-tribals could contest the KHADC polls. “What is the use to have the GHADC who are not tribals can be a part of the district council which is for safeguarding the culture and tradition of the Garos,” he questioned.
He also said that the HYC and the CoMSO are with the Garo people in the fight against illegal immigrants.
