SHILLONG, MAY 8: Terming the arrest of the KSU president Daniel Khyriem as an act of ‘betrayal’ by the government, the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) on Friday challenged chief minister Mukul Sangma to arrest all the leaders of the pro-ILP pressure groups who have pledged to continue fighting against influx.
Expressing support to 48-hour deadline served by ngos for the release of Khyriem, the GSU said that it is ready to launch intensive agitational programme in Garo hills against the government’s betrayal.
“Why is the government arresting just one of us,” GSU president Tengsak G Momin questioned in a statement issued on Friday, even as he challenged, “The Chief Minister should arrest all of us, as we are all in this together.”
The GSU said, “These kinds of partisan acts and conduct are unbecoming of the chief minister. He must step down from his chair on moral grounds.”
Momin also recalled that the chief minister in a meeting held in July last year did assured that all charges against the ngos who are demanding for Inner Line Permit (ILP) will be dropped.”
“He (CM) also promised a slew of mechanisms to check influx which would be done at the earliest but is now being delayed by the government,” Momin said adding that from this point of view, it looks like the government wishes to drag on the ‘comprehensive mechanism’ to check influx.
Stating that this is the first instance of betrayal by the government, Momin said, “This is betrayal to the people of Meghalaya,” adding “The second instance is the arrest of one of the leaders demanding ILP when it was assured that all charges will be dropped.”
Momin added, “Dr Mukul Sangma may want to deter us from checking influx with oppressive tactics of this kind but we promise him we will continue to fight influx which is like gangrene to the people of Meghalaya.”
Condemning the arrest of the KSU chief, the GSU also demand for his immediate unconditional released.
“Daniel Kyriem is a brave man and is leading by example, none of us will apply for bail if we are arrested and we will still continue to fight for the benefit of the people of Meghalaya,” Momin said.
Extending full support to the deadline given by the organisations in Khasi hills region for the release of Khyriem, Momin said, “We will work together and we the GSU, are ready for intensive agitations in Garo hills.”
According to Momin, the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) is an oppressive law meant to simply oppress the voice of the people in a democratic state. He was of the view that the state government wants to turn Meghalaya into a police state.- By Our Reporter
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