SHILLONG : The Khasi Students’ Union has decided to go ahead with its proposed public meeting at Khliehriat on August 11 despite the East Jaintia Hills administration refusing permission for the gathering.
The decision puts the union and the district administration on a possible collision course, with the KSU maintaining that the meeting will be peaceful and questioning the legal basis cited for stopping it.
The meeting is part of a five-day campaign being organised by the union across Khasi and Jaintia Hills from August 10 to 14. But Khliehriat has become the immediate point of contention because the programme is planned near the U Kiang Nangbah statue inside the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises.
The administration refused permission by referring to an order issued on May 20 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting assemblies of five or more people near the office. The KSU challenged the decision in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner on August 7. The union has cited Section 163(4), arguing that the restriction cannot continue beyond two months and has therefore lapsed.
The union has said it will still hold the meeting at the announced time.
The Khliehriat programme is closely linked to the KSU’s opposition to the July 31 public hearing on the Shree Cement limestone mining project. The union has accused the administration of conducting the hearing in a manner that restricted opposition to the project.
It is demanding cancellation of the hearing and removal of the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, senior police officials and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board officials connected with the process. It has also sought departmental proceedings against those involved. Byond the Khliehriat dispute, the union’s campaign covers several issues concerning entry of non-residents, migrant workers, recruitment and reservation.
The KSU is demanding full implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, including the pending Inner Line Permit system and all 18 notified entry and exit points. It also wants District Task Forces activated in every district and resident verification through Dorbar Shnongs rather than online registration.
On migrant workers, the union is seeking enforcement of the amended Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020.
The union has also raised the 80:20 female-to-male ratio in NEIGRIHMS nursing recruitment, calling for changes in the system, higher reservation for Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities and recruitment examinations to be conducted within Meghalaya by NEIGRIHMS itself.
Its recruitment-related demands include removing personal interviews for Grade B, C and D posts, reforms in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and District Selection Committees, and standard procedures for other recruitment bodies.
The meetings will begin at Mawkyrwat on August 10, followed by Khliehriat and Mawryngkneng on August 11, Umsning and Mairang on August 12, Sohra and Jowai on August 13, and Nongstoin on August 14.
But the Khliehriat meeting is likely to set the tone for the campaign. The KSU has given the government until August 17 to respond to its demands and has warned that the agitation will intensify if it does not see action.
