SHILLONG, JAN 30: “Very soon a battle will erupt in the region if the Citizenship Amendment Bill becomes an Act” – warned leaders of different social organisations during a public meeting held in the state capital on Wednesday.
Organised by the Khasi Students’ Union, a constituent member of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the public meeting to vehemently oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill was held at a parking lot in Motphran.
Earlier, thousands of activists also took out a protest march from the KSU’s office to the parking lot even as they shouted anti-BJP slogans and displaying placards which read – “Delete CAB or delete NE” “We demand ILP instead you give CAB”.
Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling and Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) Lambor Malngiang also joined hand during the protest against the Centre’s intention to provide citizenship to immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The meeting was also attended by leaders of the different organisations including FKJGP, HNYF, RBYF, GSU, AYWO and others.
Most of the shops in the two commercial areas – Iewduh and Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) – were also seen remaining closed during the hours of the protest.
Speaking at the meeting, NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa said the Centre wants to wipe out the indigenous people of the North East region through the Citizenship Amendment Bill by inviting immigrants from Bangladesh.
He said the Bill is a reflection of the Hindustan ideology of the BJP and its frontal wing – the RSS.
With the state sharing 443 km border with Bangladesh, Jyrwa said if the Bill becomes a law it will be easy for such immigrants to enter Meghalaya.
“We will wait and see the decision of the Rajya Sabha which is going to start its session from tomorrow. I appeal to everyone to be ready as all of us have a role to play in defending our identity,” he added.
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar warned the Centre of a battle that is going to erupt sooner or later if it fails to immediately scrap the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
“It would also be better for the Centre to declare that Meghalaya is no longer in India,” he said.
Stating that the passing of the CAB was against the Constitution of India, HNYF general secretary Sadon K Blah said, “The Bill is aimed to persecute the minority communities of the North East region.”
Blah said there is also a need to oppose against the demand to exempt the North East region from the implementation of the CAB.
GSU president Tengsak G Momin said the CAB is a taxi not for Indians but for the “vote bank” of the BJP as he urged the people of the state to fight back if the Centre is implementing the bill.
FKJGP president Wellberth Rani said it is high time for the government of Meghalaya to come up with effective laws to defend the state from such invasion. Rani also urged the people to reject and not to allow the BJP to make inroads in the state.
By Our Reporter
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