A student body in Meghalaya has put up posters in different parts addressing all Bengalis in the state as 'Bangladeshis'. The state police have removed the posters and warn of action against the people who are trying to incite communal disharmony.
The banners and posters, read "All Meghalaya Bengalis are Bangladeshis", were reportedly put up by the Khasi Students' Union (KSU).
A police officer warning the KSU for action said that for the interest of communal harmony, the student wing should refrain from indulging in such activities otherwise legal action would be taken against those trying to disturb peace and harmony.
Former Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy, also a Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Kolkata, said in a tweet: "I say this taking full responsibility as ex-Governor of Meghalaya: KSU needs to be banned just like HNLC. It is an anti-national terrorist organisation, threatening Indian citizens, some of whom are residents of Meghalaya since British times. Like my family on both sides."
KSU puts up anti-Bengali banners: Key points
- The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is a militant outfit in Meghalaya.
- Shillong-based Central Puja Committee (CPC) also appealed to all sections of the community irrespective of caste, creed, and religion to maintain peace, harmony, and brotherhood among the residents of Shillong in particular and the state of Meghalaya in general.
- In the banners and posters, the KSU also mourned the death of one of its activists in clashes during the agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act at Ichamati village.
- Around 40 people had been detained for questioning while the prime accused in the Ichamati incident is absconding.
- Earlier, some people had written to various organisations and state Governor Satya Pal Malik alleging harassment of Bengali-speaking people by some locals at Ichamati. This became the reason why this issue resurfaced.
- KSU President Lambok Marngar said, "The display of banners and posters were intended to give a message to the trouble-mongers who are misleading the people in other parts of the country and generating hate, especially by misutilising the Ichamati incident."
