Shillong, August 19: The debate over illegal migration in the North East intensified on Tuesday as Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) President, Bah Sadon Blah, joined the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in a sit-in protest outside the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at Khyndai Lad.

Carrying placards reading “No to Illegal Migrants,” “Save Our Land, Save Our Identity,” and “Evict All Migrants from North East,” Blah voiced strong resentment over what indigenous groups describe as the unchecked influx of outsiders into the region.

Addressing the media, Blah warned that illegal migration poses a grave danger not only to Meghalaya but to the entire North East. He stressed that the issue must be taken up collectively by all indigenous organisations. “We, the indigenous youth organisations, must unite and fight together to safeguard our land and our rights. The government’s prolonged delay has turned our state into a safe haven for illegal settlers, which is a serious threat to the future of our people,” he said.

He also criticised elected representatives for their silence, remarking: “It is shocking to see that the very leaders whom we elected with hope have chosen not to speak out. They keep talking only about development projects, but what is the meaning of development if our land, our language, and our rights as indigenous people are lost? Development cannot come at the cost of our survival as a people.”

Though the demonstration remained peaceful, it sent out a strong warning to both the State and Central Governments. NESO, KSU, and HNYF leaders reiterated that unless stricter protective laws are enforced and illegal migration curbed, the agitation will intensify in the coming days.