SHILLONG: Frustrated over delays in laws meant to check influx, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today told Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that it would “use its own wisdom” to enforce them if the government fails to act, KSU president Raymond Kharjana said after a meeting of the union’s central executive body with the Chief Minister.
The meeting focused on the union’s 20-point charter of demands, which had been submitted earlier in both online and offline modes.
“The discussion was quite lengthy,” Kharjana said.
The KSU raised the issue of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) first.
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“We have made our stand clear regarding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit,” Kharjana said.
He said the Chief Minister informed the delegation that the proposal is pending with the Centre.
“The Chief Minister said the matter is pending before the Central government and assured us that the state government will continue to press the Centre for its immediate implementation in Meghalaya,” he said.
On the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, Kharjana said the union opposed attempts to dilute its provisions.
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“We discussed the issue related to the MRSSA. In the past few days, there have been attempts to convert the facilitation centre, or entry-exit point, into a food court. We have made our stand clear on this issue. We will not allow any organisation or the government to convert the facilitation centre into a food court,” he said.
He said the law has not been enforced despite being passed eight years ago.
“There has been a long delay in its implementation. The Chief Minister expressed certain difficulties, saying the matter conflicts with Central laws and is pending the Governor’s assent,” Kharjana said.
The union, however, reiterated its demand for implementation.
“We have made it clear that we want the government to fully implement the entry-exit points mandated under the MRSSA,” he said.
“To implement the MRSSA, entry-exit points are needed to check the unabated influx into the state. Without entry-exit points, implementing the MRSSA is meaningless,” Kharjana added.
The Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020, also came up for discussion.
“In the past few years, the union has submitted suggestions to incorporate necessary provisions to strengthen the Act. Unfortunately, we are yet to see its full implementation,” Kharjana said.
He said the Chief Minister responded positively to one of the union’s key suggestions.
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“The Chief Minister assured us that the government will take steps to implement the Act. Our suggestion was simple, ensure police verification of migrant workers coming to work in the state. The government has accepted this, and I hope we will see its effective implementation,” he said.
Kharjana said the union sees a pattern of inaction across all three laws.
“Till date, we have not seen any law to prevent the unabated flow of influx into the state. If we talk about the ILP, the reply is that the matter is pending with the Centre. If we talk about the MRSSA, we get the same response. If we talk about the Migrant Workers Act, it is similar,” he said.
Issuing a warning, Kharjana said, “We want to send a clear message. If the government cannot implement these laws to safeguard the rights and identity of the indigenous community, the union will be compelled to implement these laws on its own to protect the interests of the indigenous community.”
He said the Chief Minister gave assurances on some issues, while others require further discussion.
“There are issues which the Chief Minister assured to resolve in the coming days and weeks, and there are issues that need further discussion,” he said.
On the question of setting a deadline, Kharjana said the time for ultimatums is over.
“These are long-pending demands. It is not a question of giving an ultimatum anymore. It is simple. If you cannot implement these laws, the union will have no other option but to use its own wisdom on how to implement them. At that time, you cannot say the union is indulging in illegal activities,” he said.
