Correspondent
Shillong, Sep 7: The Meghalaya government has invited the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) for another round of talks to discuss the five-point charter of demands on Tuesday.
In a letter addressed to the Assistant General Secretary of the KSU, Pynshaiborlang Rani, by the Joint Secretary of Home, D.D. Syngai, it was stated that the meeting will be chaired by Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed to discuss the issues and concerns raised by the Union during the meeting with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on August 26.
Chief Minister Sangma held a meeting with the KSU following their August 19 black-flag bike rally, which was organised to press the government to implement the Union’s demands.
The rally turned violent, resulting in arson, damage to multiple government and private vehicles—including those registered outside Meghalaya—and the assault of 18 bystanders.
A vehicle belonging to State Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, another belonging to BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek, and two vehicles of the Meghalaya High Court were reportedly vandalised. Additionally, a bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and a glass case holding a statue of Swami Vivekananda at the RR Colony Welfare Society office were defaced during the rally. During the meeting, the Chief Minister had assured the KSU that all further work at the Shree Cement site in East Jaintia Hills district would “remain on hold” until an independent fact-finding committee completes its findings after examining concerns regarding the public hearing process, stakeholder participation and environmental issues. With regard to the demand on implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), Sangma said the government has decided to expedite registration of people coming from outside the state. “A technology-based application is also being developed to simplify registration and create a centralised database,” the Chief Minister said.
Both the government and the KSU agreed on a joint inspection of the Umling Facilitation Centre, for operationalising it before Christmas, while the government has assured to identify land for centres at other locations. On the KSU demand on recruitment in NEIGRIHMS, the Chief Minister assured the KSU that the state govt would facilitate a meeting with the Union health minister so that their concerns can be raised directly. “The state will also extend logistical support wherever required for examinations,” he said.
On transparency in recruitment, the CM shared that interviews for Grade ‘D’ posts have already been removed, while interviews for Grade ‘C’ non-technical posts will be abolished from January 1, 2027.
“We have also implemented 19 of the 23 reforms recommended for the MPSC, with four under consideration,” Sangma stated.