SHILLONG, MAR 26: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has submitted a five-point charter of demands to Chief Secretary Dr Shakil P Ahammed, warning of stern action if the government fails to address the issues.
The demands include implementation of amendments to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety & Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, reforms in the district selection committees, withdrawal of a directive asking school students to sing “Vande Mataram”, and eviction of illegal settlers from Mahadev Khola and Maxwelton Estate.
“We strongly condemn the government’s inability to implement the Act even after almost 2 years of passing the Bill. If there’s any further delay, we’ll have to resume the eviction drive of migrant workers again,” said KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah and assistant general secretary Reuben Najiar in the memorandum.
Regarding the district selection committees, the KSU stated that the current results are “flawed and highly irregular, filled with nepotism and corruption”.
“If no changes are brought forward, we’ll take different forms of agitation in the capital and headquarters of all districts,” they warned.
The KSU also opposed the directive to sing “Vande Mataram” in schools, citing its references to Hindu goddesses as unsuitable for mandatory singing by all faiths in a secular country.
“If the government continues to issue such directives, we’ll be compelled to take aggressive measures,” they stated.
By Our Reporter
