The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday organised a black-flag bike rally across Shillong following the expiry of its 15-day ultimatum to the Meghalaya Government over a five-point charter of demands. Instances of vehicles being vandalised were reported during the rally, while most shops kept their shutters down amid the agitation.
The union has announced another round of agitation on August 21, with a rally from Jaiaw followed by a sit-in demonstration at Khyndailad.
The rally began around 4 p.m. from the KSU office at Jaiaw and passed through Lumdiengjri, Malki, Dhankheti, Umpling, Golf Link and Mawlai Mawroh before returning to Jaiaw. The union has demanded cancellation of the July 31 public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement project in East Jaintia Hills and action against officials it alleges were responsible for the conduct of the hearing, including the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills and concerned officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. It has also sought implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, enforcement of the 2024 amendments relating to migrant workers, changes in government recruitment, including removal of personal interviews for Grade C and D posts and reservation of government jobs for Meghalaya residents. Other demands include action on recruitment issues at NEIGRIHMS, implementation of the Inner Line Permit and fulfilment of the Government’s earlier commitment to oppose uranium mining.
KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar said the union had instructed its volunteers and members to ensure that the rally remained peaceful and that it would not condone any violence. “So, if there’s any kind of a violence. Then, from the Union side, we don’t condone that because we are strictly reiterated it to all our volunteers, to our members not to create any Law and Order situation because this is a peaceful rally,” he said.
Najiar said the union had not received any report of violence from its members. “The 15 days ultimatum has ended yesterday. The five demands that the union has made up to the government on August 3, till date we haven’t recieved any compliance with our demands as yet,” he said. He added, “Today we have organised a black flag bike rally. the black flag indicates that we condemn the government for being silent on the demands that the KSU has made out.”
On the next phase of the agitation, Najiar said, “On the 21st Of August we will be having a agitation, we will be having a rally from Jaiaw and there will be a sit in demonstration on Khyndailad. these agitation and protest will keep on continuing day by day until and unless all our demands is accepted.”
