Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced Thursday that the NPP-led MDA government will move a formal resolution in the state Assembly to block uranium mining. The move follows intense public outcry and claims that recent remarks by Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh regarding the SHANTI Act, 2025, signaled a project revival. Sangma downplayed these concerns, claiming Singh’s comments were misinterpreted. He insisted the federal government has made no decision on extraction and the matter remains under examination.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) remains skeptical. While welcoming the resolution, KSU general secretary Reuben A. Najiar called the measure insufficient. The union demands the closure of the Atomic Minerals Directorate office in Nongmensong, arguing its continued operation signals hidden federal intent. KSU president Raymond Kharjana alleged that influential figures and former MLAs are buying land in the uranium-rich Domiasiat area to flip it to entities like UCIL. The KSU is gathering evidence through RTI applications to expose these deals.
"The KSU is prepared to sacrifice the lives of its members to protect the interests of the people and the land. We will not remain silent if anyone attempts to betray the interests of the indigenous community," Kharjana said. The union is pressuring the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils to pass their own bans and amend land laws to block sales in sensitive zones. BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek confirmed his party would back the state resolution, stating that no mining should occur without local consent.
Separately, the KSU used the 191st death anniversary of freedom fighter U Tirot Sing Syiem to demand a stricter law regulating outsider influx, specifically the Inner Line Permit. Kharjana warned that the indigenous population risks becoming a minority without legal safeguards. He urged citizens to honor the legacy of U Tirot Sing by taking personal risks to defend their identity. The Voice of the People Party also demanded a clear, public declaration from the Centre to rule out mining permanently. The state government now faces mounting pressure to convert promises into binding legal protections.
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