The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Saturday warned elected representatives of Meghalaya not to play with the future of the community (Jaitbynriew).
The students’ body also vowed to aggressively pursue the demand to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
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After the results of the 14th KSU general election on Saturday, Lambokstar Well Marngar got elected uncontested for the second term as KSU president.
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The KSU announced that the newly constituted Central Executive Council (CEC) will soon sit to discuss issues concerning the people of the community and the state, especially to pursue the demand for ILP aggressively.
Apart from Marngar, general secretary Donald V Thabah retained the post uncontested while former organising secretary, Biangbor L. Paliar also was elected as vice-president without any contest.
The other office-bearers include assistant general secretary Readyon Stone Nongrum, who polled 2,000 votes and organising secretary Ostarnic Marbaniang, got 2,418 votes.
While Raymond Kharjana (2,020 votes) became education secretary, Pynshaiborlang Rani (1,744 votes) was elected as publicity secretary and Spaindarsing Lyngkhoi (1,769 votes) as office secretary.
The election was conducted by the election committee under the chairmanship of former KSU leader Danny Khyriem, and NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa as secretary.
The KSU president, Marngar, in his address, listed topmost priority issues that the union would fight for, which include stringent measures to check influx of illegal immigrants and migrants from outside, the pending inter-state boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, and improving education in the state.
“If the Centre can give ILP to Manipur, why is the Centre delaying for Meghalaya by examining the matter again?” Marngar asked.
Disappointed over the outcome of the meeting between the state delegation and union home minister Amit Shah on the ILP issue in New Delhi on Thursday,
Marngar said that the decision to examine the demand is nothing but disrespecting the aspirations of the people.
Asking KSU leaders and members to be prepared, Marngar said, “The battle has started now to pursue this issue aggressively, and we should all be ready.”
Marngar also warned all elected representatives not to play with the future of the indigenous people of the state, especially the aspirations of the people to get ILP.
He condemned BJP legislator and minister AL Hek, who claimed that a majority of the people are not for ILP.
“We have a population of 33 lakhs and to say that only 30,000 are for ILP cannot be accepted,” Marngar said.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) condemned Hek and urged the people to send a text message – ‘We demand ILP’ – to the minister on his mobile number.
CoMSO vice-chairman Lawyerson War termed Hek’s statement as misleading, and alleged that Hek has appeared to one of the few, trying to mislead the Home Ministry in order to delay the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya.
“Everyone knew that the BJP MLA had won the election (from Pynthorumkhrah) because of non-tribal vote bank,” War alleged.