SHILLONG, Jan 16 - The Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisation (CoHSO), which is heading the opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Meghalaya, has warned that passing of the Bill will give rise to �militant regime� in the Northeastern region.
�If the CAB is allowed to become an Act, no doubt this will only give rise to �militant regime� in the Northeastern region and then who will take responsibility of such fallout,� questioned CoHSO chairman and president of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Robertjune Kharjahrin here on Tuesday.
Asking the BJP-led NDA Government to respect the sentiments of the people, the NGO leader said the Bill will only nullify the Instrument of Accession (IOA) and Annexed Agreement (AA) signed in 1948, Assam Accord and other agreements.
He also alleged that the Bill also violates the spirit of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India which seeks to protect the indigenous communities.
Admitting that it is high time to demand the Centre to implement the IOA & AA in letter and spirit, the HYC president, however, said, �The IOA can only be fully implemented after we get a separate State, the demand of which was spearheaded by our former leaders including Hopingstone Lyngdoh.�
He said the Confederation is also demanding that the Centre should set up a high level committee to study the IOA signed in 1948 as it had done in the case of the Assam Accord, which was signed much later in 1985.
The conglomerate of 14 NGOs has also announced a three-day hunger strike in protest against the CAB. The proposed three-day hunger strike will be launched in Shillong from January 24 to 26.
The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Tuesday, which also seeks to unite all stakeholders including political parties, social organisations, traditional institutions, etc., under one platform before calling for a grand Assembly (Dorbar Bah) to oppose the Bill.
Kharjahrin said the Confederation will also hold a series of public meetings at Jowai on January 18, Khliehriat and Umsning on January 21 and Nongstoin and Mawkyrwat on January 23.
�We will also distribute over 50,000 leaflets across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region to make people aware on the evils of the CAB against the indigenous people of the State and the North East during these meetings, besides burning of effigies,� he said.
The chairman further informed that the Confederation is also proposing to hold the Dorbar Bah (grand Assembly) to send a strong message to the Centre that the people of Meghalaya in one voice vehemently oppose the CAB.
�We will try to bring everybody under one platform. Therefore, we urge all the political parties and NGOs to let us keep whatever differences we have aside and stand united on this issue for the cause of the indigenous community,� he said.
Kharjahrin appealed to all members of the Rajya Sabha to ensure that the Bill does not pass through in its next session.
