Shillong, June 4: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), led by President Richmond Kharjana and General Secretary Reuben Najiar, said they raised three key issues concerning Meghalaya and its indigenous people during their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Shillong on Thursday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), which Amit Shah attended at the State Convention Centre.
Addressing the media after the meeting, KSU leaders said the union strongly reiterated its demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), the resolution of the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute, and the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
On the issue of ILP, Reuben Najiar said the demand remains pending despite being crucial for safeguarding Meghalaya’s indigenous communities.
He pointed out that following the detection and deportation drives against illegal immigrants in West Bengal and Assam, many migrants have not returned to Bangladesh but have instead sought shelter elsewhere.
“Meghalaya currently lacks adequate legal mechanisms to protect itself from unchecked influx. The time has come to implement the ILP to safeguard the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities, who are minorities within their own homeland,” Najiar said.
However, KSU leaders noted that Amit Shah did not give any specific assurance regarding the implementation of ILP during the meeting.
On the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute, the union expressed concern over what it described as Assam’s continued assertion of authority in disputed areas.
“In Lapangap and other disputed locations, Assam has acted like a dominant force and has violated the status quo,” Najiar alleged.
According to him, Amit Shah assured the delegation that if ongoing negotiations and established mechanisms fail to resolve the dispute, the Government of India would intervene to facilitate a solution.
“The Union Home Minister assured us that if the Centre finds that the existing mechanisms are unable to produce a resolution, the Government of India will step in and take necessary measures,” Najiar said.
Regarding the demand to include Khasi in the Eighth Schedule, Najiar said Amit Shah informed them that the process was moving forward.
“He told us that a committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges would soon be constituted to examine the various demands for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule. Nearly 100 languages across the country have submitted similar requests, and the committee will study and make recommendations on these demands,” he said.
When asked whether the meeting had been fruitful, Najiar said the KSU had fulfilled its responsibility by presenting the concerns and aspirations of the people of Meghalaya before the Central Government.
“Our duty is to place the issues of the people before the authorities. It is now for the State Government and the Central Government to examine these matters and take appropriate action,” he said.
He further added that the movement for ILP in Meghalaya has continued for many years, and it is now up to the Central Government to clearly explain why the demand can or cannot be accepted.
“The people of Meghalaya deserve clarity on the issue. The struggle for ILP has been ongoing for years, and the Centre must now provide a clear response,” he added.
