SHILLONG, JULY 7: Former vice president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Frederick Kharmawphlang, who earlier this year joined the Khasi militant outfit – Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) accused the state government for the disunity in the KSU over the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue.
“I suspect a foul play over this issue and as it is clear that the agents of the government of Meghalaya have sown seeds of disunity among the KSU members and this is a sheer conspiracy in the form of modified ILP,” Kharmawphlang said in a statement issued on Monday.
Yesterday, four leaders of the KSU from Ri Bhoi district tendered their resignation letters from the union citing that the present leadership had disrespected the voice of the people who have supported the demand for the implementation of the ILP in the state.
Expressing displeasure over such disunity among the KSU leadership, Kharmawphlang said, “It is also shocking to observe that out of the 13 pressure groups involved in the ILP issue only the KSU leadership is facing a crisis over the current issue.”
Kharmawphalang said, “I would appeal to the members of the KSU that at this juncture if we are not united in our own leadership level, then how do we expect to unite with all the other 13 organisations who are fighting hand in hand under the same umbrella for the implementation of ILP in the state.”
The former student leader termed the modified ILP (or as claimed by NGOs, a comprehensive mechanism) as nothing but a “conspiracy theory” to create disunity, misunderstanding, groupism and hatred. According to him, the ILP is a uniform and that the EBFA (Eastern Bengal Frontier Act 1873) is a law.
Kharmawphlang said, “The question does not arise for its (ILP) modification. A law can only be amended as we have seen in case of Nagaland and Mizoram,” adding “These laws were amended to suit the needs of the present times in accordance to the cultural law, its customs and tradition.”
Kharmawphlang further stated that the EBFA was meant to regulate the infiltration of outsiders as in those days there were no schools so as to enable students from outside, there were no requirements of employees from outside as there were no offices within. The trade and commerce were less and no workers or labourers were engaged from outside, he stated
Kharmawphlang also appealed to the KSU and the other 12 pressure groups to come to a common understanding and help create positive awareness among the public on the ongoing misunderstanding.
Kharmawphlang said, “Such step can enable us to root out all evils that is hampering our unity,” adding that if at this juncture they are not united, then with whom do they expect to unite with, the BJP or the Congress?
Stating that the state government is a puppet government, Kharmawphlang said, “If the pressure groups also become puppets into the hands of the state government then where is the future of the people and the land and the question that arises now is where will our people seek refugee from?’
Pointing out that its irony to think that the centre at this moment is governed by majority BJP and the state is ruled by the Congress, Kharmawphlang said that it is beyond doubt that the BJP government is working hard to cleanse away article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir as to enable Indians to purchase lands, and also give them the access to get married to locals and also to operate their businesses without any interference or hindrances.
“But the BJP leadership is hell bent to implement Article 370 in Goa as to restrict foreigners from procuring properties in and around the union territory,” Kharmawphlang said adding “This also makes negative possibilities as to how far will the BJP go for the implementation of ILP in the state of Meghalaya and Manipur.”
On his decision to join the rebel group, Kharmawphlang in the statement said, “It is for general public, friends, co-workers and family members to know that I did not want to succumb to the tactics nor live life of a victim into the hands of the government.” He said he prefer to stand up to defend the rights of the indigenous people as per the principles and ideology of the HNLC.”-By Our Reporter
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