Meghalaya: Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh demands Govt to implement ILP

SHILLONG: Amid protests, Meghalaya MLA Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh today urged the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to come through in its promise to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) amid protests for the enactment of the same.

Lyngdoh, addressing the Conrad K Sangma-led Government, said: "What it is that you want to get operating in the State of Meghalaya? Decide and make it operational(...)don't make us go back on the ILP."

"There is this grave fear in the minds of the people of the state that there would be this overwhelming entry of individuals that would invariably through the passage of time compromise the ethnic build of our community," Lyngdoh stated through a video, adding that the "fight for implementation of the ILP has always been there."

For some odd reason, the Government of India has denied Meghalaya, Ampareen Lyngdoh said, adding that the Government has given various reasons as to why it does not wish to grant the ILP -- such as the state's close proximity to the borders.

Lamenting that the Congress party has been unjustly blamed for the implementation of the ILP, the MLA pointed out that the current Government is still unable to implement the safety measure in spite of passing a resolution.

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"What is more disappointing is one error. The CAA came in, and the ILP was implemented in Manipur, and you are saying that

She pointed out that the Congress leaders have also demanded a status of the resolution to implement the ILP.

Amid a resurgence of demand for introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma met Union Home Minister, Amit Shah In Delhi, but there was no firm assurance for the same despite the Assembly passing a unanimous resolution to this effect last year.

The Union Home Minister agreed to consider the demand but gave no assurance that ILP will be introduced in the hill state like most of the other states in the North East which have the safeguard in place.

Shah met the delegation and assured protection of all tribal rights while looking into the demand of imposing ILP in the state.

However, sources in the Union Home Ministry have revealed that ILP cannot be granted for a state like Meghalaya which is used as a transit state to many neighbouring states. Moreover, the tourism sector in Meghalaya is also expected to be adversely affected.

It needs mention here that pressure groups in Meghalaya on Thursday resumed their agitation over the demand to implement the inner line permit (ILP) system in the state. The students' body has also called for the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).

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