Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy has compared the status of the non-tribal communities residing in Meghalaya with that of the Kashmiri pandits, who had to flee the valley.
“I get a sense that their (non-tribals in Meghalaya) position, their status is something like that of the Kashmiri pandits in the Kashmir valley,” Roy told reporters on March 7, news agency UNI reported.
“I have made it clear to the ministers and senior government officials that I will not let any citizen of India residing in this country – be it Khasi, Garo, Bengali, Christian or a Muslim – suffer from any indignity or any fear,” the governor added.
Roy’s statement is significant in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the state after three persons died and several others were injured in violent attacks.
Violence erupted in Meghalaya after a Khasi Students’ Union member was killed in a clash between the indigenous Khasi people and non-tribals after an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act public meeting at Ichamati village on February 28.
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the incident in Ichamati village.
Hundreds of migrant workers employed in stone quarries have left Ichamati village following the clashes.
Roy informed that he had several rounds of discussion with Chief Minster Conrad Sangma, ministers and officials on the prevailing law and order situation in the state.
“I have told them basically two things. Firstly, normalcy has to be restored and secondly, the morale of the non-tribals must be restored,” the governor said.
