MP Rajdeep Roy raises in Lok Sabha the atrocities on non-tribals in Meghalaya

March 17: Voicing concern about the atrocities perpetuated upon the non-tribals in Meghalaya, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Silchar, Dr. Rajdeep Roy raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking during ‘Matters of Urgent Public Importance’, Dr. Roy addressed the Speaker Om Birla and said that he stands to speak on an urgent matter which is creating a great problem in Northeast India.

Before embarking upon the recent issues, he went down the memory lane and highlighted that Shillong has been the summer capital of Assam for a long time. Subsequently, since 1972, he said that Shillong has been the capital of Meghalaya, where we have the Khasi hills, the Garo hills and the Jaintia hills. Dr. Roy said, though primarily, Meghalaya is inhabited by the Khasis, Garos and Jayantiyas but apart from them, a lot of Bengali, Nepali, Assamese and Hindi speaking people reside there. They have all contributed to the growth of the state of Meghalaya.

Saying so, Dr. Roy said, “Since the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAA), there has been a lot of atrocities on the non-tribal population, that is, the Bengalis, Assamese and the Hindi speaking populace.” He sought the immediate attention of the government in this regard so that the unconstitutional modus operandi of certain groups in the state against the non-tribals comes to an immediate halt.

It needs mention here that, MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy had in fact written a letter to Khasi Students’ Union President, Lambok Marngar on 16 March, 2020 wherein he categorically stated how in the name of anti-CAA movement including demand of Inner Line Permit (ILP), assaults are carried on upon the innocent non-tribals. In the said letter, he stated, “I am writing this letter to you with immense displeasure about the excessive atrocities on the non-tribal people of Meghalaya in the disguise of the demand for Inner Line Permit and opposition to CAA. The innocent non-tribal people of the state arc being targeted, which is probably not the reflection of the mass peace- loving people of the state.”

He also mentioned how after few years after attaining of statehood, non-tribal population of the state has borne the brunt of many agitations by some pressure groups targeted against them which resulted in steady migration of large number of people from Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya. He expressed deep concern the safety and security of minuscule non-tribal populace of the state who are living with constant apprehension and fear in Meghalaya.

Another germane issue touched upon by the MP in his letter was reports of harassment of people travelling to Assass, Tripura and Mizoram via Meghalaya by the agitators on some pretext or the other. He wrote, “The anti – social elements who claim that they are agitating against the CAA and demanding ILP are also stopping passengers and troubling them. There are also reports that at times the innocent people have to offer money to such elements just to reach home with their families safely.”

It is in this context that Dr. Roy urged upon the President of Khasi Students’ Union to initiate suitable steps to stop such atrocities on the non-tribal people of Meghalaya. The MP concluded his letter reminding the Khasi President the fact that there are many Khasi and Jaintia villages spread across the state of Assam and it is in the good sense that to stop the backlash on those people that the atrocities on the non-tribal people of the state of Meghalaya be stopped Immediately.”

Without beating around the bush, Rajdeep Roy put across the strong demand that “Loss of not a single non-tribal life will henceforth be accepted by the non-tribal community in the region.” He also said that organisations like Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) should also be stopped from threatening and harassing the non-tribal people of the state to avoid coercive measures, which will be prayed for before the Union Government.

It is in the context of the letter written by the MP on 16 March, 2020, that this vital issue of security of the non-tribal populace residing in the state of Meghalaya was raised by him in the Lok Sabha on 17 March, 2020. Later on sharing his views with way2barak, Dr. Roy said, “I am hopeful of some positive intervention by the Union government in this regard so that the non-tribals can dwell in a safe and secured environment in the state of Meghalaya.”