The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has sought a written assurance from the NPP-led Meghalaya government on the measures taken to prevent infiltration and safeguard the identity and land rights of the state’s indigenous people. “The union cannot rely on verbal statements. We want to see a concrete plan and are relying on the Chief Minister to come out with a firm, documented proposal on laws meant to safeguard indigenous identity, ownership of land and to prevent illegal immigration into the state,” KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah said.
Thabah said the state government had earlier informed the students union that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) would be amended or strengthened with additional clauses to tackle influx. “Now we expect the government to deliver something substantial in the coming days to reassure citizens that steps were being taken to secure the rights of the indigenous population,” he said. On the Chief Minister’s recent hint that a new law — possibly aligned with MRSSA protection — might be introduced, Thabah said the KSU would not comment until it examined the full content of the proposed law.
“We need to scrutinise each clause and sub-clause to determine whether any amended or new act could genuinely operate as an effective shield against influx. Without examining the entire text, we cannot make an informed opinion,” he said. The KSU leader’s remarks came a day after the Chief Minister addressed fresh concerns raised by pressure groups over illegal immigration