SHILLONG, APR 4: Braving heavy rain and hailstone, thousands of KSU members marched from Shillong Polytechnic at Mawlai to Jaiaw Lum Pyllon Community Hall to observe the Khasi National Awakening Day that commemorates the day when freedom fighther U Tirot Sing waged a war against the British on April 4, 1829.
April 4 is observed as the Khasi National Awakening Day which is commemorated across Khasi-Jaintia hills in memory of the great Khasi freedom fighter, U Tirot Sing, the chief (Syiem) of Nongkhlaw Syiemship.
The Khasi National Awakening Day march was also joined by others beside the KSU members. The march culminated at Jaiaw Lum Pyllon Community Hall where the marchers gathered.
“The purpose of observing the day is to awaken the indigenous people and make them aware about the dangers of influx and illegal immigration in the state,” KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa said.
The KSU started observing the Khasi National Awakening Day last year.
Jyrwa said that the day would be observed every year to wake up from slumber against the problem of influx and illegal immigration posing serious threat to the indigenous people and its demography.
The marchers put stickers on their clothes that read, “No ILP, No Rest, No Solution, No Peace,” and shouted slogan demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) to check entry of outsiders into the state.
Similar programmes were also organised by the KSU in all the district headquarters falling within the Khasi-Jaintia hills to commemorate the Khasi National Awakening Day.- By Our Reporter
It is awful imperative for the KSU and other organisations and individuals to observe this day every year as this will encourage the indigenous people to feel patriotic. I feel pained to see that Paul Lyngdoh, during his presidentship the party KHNAM was formed to politically awaken the indigenous people, to join a party that gave ticket to a non tribal for contesting election. Further, he even wanted to flag down the party which he himself the founder. The KSU should be careful to elect a person at the helm.