Shillong, Sept 4: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has warned it will resume protests if the state government fails to act on its five demands and arrest those involved in the attack on protestors during the Shree Cement plant public hearing.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) held at the Union’s office to review the assurances given by the government during talks held on August 26 at the Secretariat.
“The CEC has resolved to follow up on the five issues assured by the government in the coming weeks,” KSU said in a statement.
The Union said the government had promised to follow up on setting up facilitation centres at Umling and Ratacherra and implementation of the Migrant Workmen Act within 20 days as agreed.
The KSU expressed resentment over daily filing of cases and harassment of its leaders.
“The union expressed anger over filing of cases against our leaders almost daily and especially the arrest of Samuel Kharbani, general secretary of KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle,” the statement said.
KSU said Kharbani was summoned to the Sadar police station for opposing illegal mandir construction inside the CBI office, which it said is a government and public office.
“Instead, the government backstabbed our members by randomly arresting and filing cases in connection with our peaceful bike rally on August 19,” it said.
Raising the July 30-31 attack during the Shree Cement public hearing at Lum Syrman, Elaka Nongkhlieh, the Union questioned why not a single arrest has been made even after two months.
“When the law is for all and no one is above the law, why is there discrimination only against our members where there is no evidence but they are arrested randomly? The law itself is so biased that even after two months we have not seen a single person arrested for attacking people who went to oppose the public hearing,” the Union said.
“The police department summoned and harassed our members like this, but has the police department arrested even one person who damaged vehicles, dug up public road and was involved in attacking people who went to oppose the public hearing on the night of July 30 and morning of July 31?” it asked.
The KSU said it will not remain silent and has given the government three days to act.
“We will not sit idle. We give the government three days to arrest these persons involved and also government persons who may be involved. Otherwise, the union will have to think of other ways after this deadline,” it said.
Warning that talks are meaningful only when they translate into action, KSU said, “If these demands are not fulfilled and if the government does not show signs of implementing them immediately, the Union will not hesitate to withdraw the temporary suspension of agitation as announced on August 26 and will resume agitation from here onwards.”
“The continued silence of the Union is not a sign of accepting delay. The Union has given time to the government to show action. If the government fails to give satisfactory answers, fails to show clear steps, or continues to delay implementation, the KSU will restart democratic public agitation in a proper manner,” it added.
“The patience of the people and the youth of the state should not be taken as acceptance of government inaction. The government now has to choose: implementation of public demands or resumption of KSU’s public agitation,” the statement addrd
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