Shillong, September 2: Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president Raymond Kharjana on Wednesday said the filing of multiple cases against the union’s leaders would not deter them, and urged the Meghalaya government to address the issues already raised by the union’s Central Executive Committee without further delay.
Kharjana was produced before a court along with KSU vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet, general secretary Reuben Najiar and assistant organising secretary Jeremaiah Pohthmi in connection with cases linked to the August 19 violence during the union’s black flag bike rally.
Speaking to reporters, Kharjana alleged that the government was targeting the union’s leaders. “We have said from the beginning that they are trying to target the leaders, but even if they slap 10 or 20 cases on us, we no longer care,” he said.
He added that the more important issue was for the government to act on the demands and concerns already placed before it by the KSU’s Central Executive Committee. “What is important is that the issues that we from the CEC have already discussed and highlighted to the government must be fulfilled. It should not be delayed anymore,” Kharjana said.
The KSU president said the organisation would continue to stand by its decisions despite legal action against its leaders. “Whenever we take any decision, we take it with determination. No matter how much they try to bring us down, they will not be able to break the strong foundation of the leaders of the KSU,” he said.
Former KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah, meanwhile, described the filing of multiple cases as “harassment” and alleged that the authorities were attempting to keep the leaders in jail. Thabah said the union was yet to receive complete clarity on all the cases filed against the leaders as the matters were before the court. He also claimed that repeated legal action was creating anger among members of the organisation and sections of the public.
On the question of bail, Thabah said applications had been filed in some of the cases but declined to comment further as the matters were pending before the court. Asked about the union’s next course of action, he said the Central Executive Committee would decide the future steps.
