CoMSO to organize a statewide candlelight vigil over delay to implement ILP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 20, 2021

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) has decided to organize a statewide ‘candle light vigil’ on January 21, as a mark of protest against the Centre’s delay to implement the inner line permit (ILP) system in the state.

The protest will coincide with the celebration of Meghalaya’s 49^th year of statehood and ahead of the union home minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state for chairing the 69^th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong on January 23.

“The candlelight vigil will be held in all the district headquarters of the state to express our concern at the apathy of the Centre and state governments to implement the ILP,” CoMSO secretary Roypar Synrem said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

In the state capital, the lighting of candles will take place at Madan Malki from 3 pm to 6 pm.

He said the protest will also be against the delay of the Governor Satya Pal Malik to approve the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

“Apart from this, we are also concerned about the long pending boundary dispute with Assam, delay to relocate the Sweeper’s Colony and the delay to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” Synrem said.

On the other hand, the CoMSO leader said that the confederation has decided to go for peaceful agitation in view of the upcoming visit of Shah to the state.

“We also need to meet him (Shah) to get a clear picture on the stand of the Centre regarding the ILP resolution and MRSSAB, 2020 passed by the state’s Assembly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CoMSO has also decided to observe two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed leaders of the hill state movement.