Thousands of people rally to oppose citizenship bill

SHILLONG, JAN 31: A massive crowd turned out in Shillong to demand the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to scrap the Citizenship Amendment Bill and to pressurise the state government to implement the Inner Line Permit system in the state.

The decision was taken at the ‘Dorbar Bah Ki Khun Hynniewtrep’ organised by the 14 NGOs under the banner of the Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisations (CoHSO) at Students’ Field, Jaiaw here on Thursday.

The Dorbar Bah, which drew thousands of people coming from different parts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, is one of biggest rallies held in the state to vehemently oppose the intention of the Centre to implement the citizenship bill.

Leaders of different political parties including BJP Meghalaya state, United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and others also attended the rally.

Speaking at the gathering, KHADC chief Hispreaching Son Shylla said a one-week ultimatum is given to the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to immediately implement inner line permit.

“The government under the leadership of the Conrad K Sangma and Donkupar Roy should advice the Governor to grant assent to the ILP Bill passed by the KHADC within a week’s time,” said Shylla, who also announced his resignation from the NPP.

He also assured to give Rs 5 lakh to the CoHSO for organising a much bigger rally at Polo Ground if the government fails to pay heed to this demand.

Stating that the people are fighting a losing battle since come what may the BJP is going to implement the CAB, he however lamented that unlike other states in the North East region, Meghalaya is the only state which is without any protection.

“Therefore, the state needs ILP as it is the only solution to prevent outsiders from settling in the state. If implemented anybody entering the state without a permit is liable to be imprisoned for one year,” Shylla said even as he appealed to people to reject the NPP and the UDP in the upcoming MDC elections if they do not implement this important law.

The KHADC chief further slammed the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for his commitment to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) passed by the then Congress-led state government in 2016.

“The MRSSA is more dangerous than the CAB as it seeks to facilitate entry of visitors and ensure no Indians are subjected to any inconveniences despite the fact that the state is facing the problem of inter-state influx,” he said.

Shylla also reminded that the MRSSA was also passed in the same year when the BJP at the centre introduced the CAB in parliament.

“While the Centre is planning to provide citizenship to immigrants, the then CM Mukul Sangma came up with this Act to welcome them, which Conrad now is so interested to implement, which clearly shows that the “two Sangmas” are having the same common intention,” he said.

Expressing that he has lost faith in all the political parties in the state, Shylla is also of the opinion that it is high time that the NGOs should field their own candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh urged the people to fight against the plan of the government of India to wipe out the minority communities of the region through the CAB just for sake of its vote bank politics.

Lyngdoh also suggested the need to knock the door of the UN for its intervention against the Centre’s move.

Reminding that the Khasi states were part of India because of the Instrument of Accession (IOA), he said, “If the Centre fails to honor the provisions of the IOA we will also be compelled to trample the Constitution.”

In his speech, CoHSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin said the meeting today resolved to demand the Centre to immediately scrap the citizenship bill as well as the MDA government to implement the ILP.

Kharjahrin, who is also the president of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) said it will be no ILP no rest as the confederation will intensify its agitations to demand its implementation to protect and safeguard the interest of the indigenous people of the state.

Asked, he said that the confederation will soon meet to chalk out its future course of action.

Most of the shops in and around Iewduh and Khyndailad area downed their shutters from morning and until the gathering culminated.

By Our Reporter