A gathering of hundreds of people here on Thursday announced the start of a “revolution” to protect one’s own land for the benefit of future generations.

The revolution— Protect Your Own Land — was launched at a public meeting held at Students’ Field spearheaded by former Meghalaya legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.

In his address, Basaiawmoit said the revolution was meant to seek a stronger law from the Centre to protect the indigenous people of the state.

“We have the Sixth Schedule. But it is not enough. We need a law similar to Article 371. This article protects the people of Nagaland and Mizoram from the onslaught of central legislations,” he said.

For this to materialise, he said the indigenous people need to start a revolution. He said Article 371 would ensure that the indigenous people grow and prosper as per their customs and way of life.

He also stressed on the need to grant constitutional recognition to traditional bodies such as headmen to streamline their powers and functions.

Basaiawmoit said the state was in need of the inner line permit (ILP) system.

Questioning the silence of present day legislators from the Khasi hills when the Centre had removed Khasi-Jaintia district from the original notification of the ILP, he said a strong protest should have instead been lodged.

Lambasting chief minister Conrad K. Sangma on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Basaiawmoit said the chief minister was indulging in double speak on the Act. “While the chief minister claims that the government is against the Act, his MP from Tura (Agatha K. Sangma), had voted in its favour.” He also said if other states could pass a resolution to oppose the Act, why Meghalaya has not passed a similar resolution.

The former legislator also took on the government for the illegal coal mining and transportation in the state. He said such activities would not happen without the knowledge of the state home and transport departments.

“The home and transport ministers should give an account as to how illegal coal mining and transportation is taking place,” Basaiawmoit said. He said the state exchequer was losing crores of rupees because of the illegal coal mining and transportation.

Basaiawmoit said in the near future, there will be a meeting with all the traditional heads and pressure groups to strengthen and unite them.

“We will go to New Delhi in one voice to demand that our land should be protected,” he said.