NGOs ask govt to pass resolution demanding ILP within Dec 19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 13, 2019

SHILLONG: Four pressure groups on Friday demanded the state government to pass an official resolution for urging the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya within December 19.

The  Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) after holding a joint emergent meeting here also threatened to disrupt government programmes if government remain adamant.

“We have decided to give an ultimatum to the state government to immediately convene a special session of the Assembly and pass a resolution to urge the Centre to implement the ILP in the state,” FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani told reporters at a press conference.

Rani said on failing, the leaders of the four pressure groups will force all 60 MLAs to sit for a special session and pass the resolution. “We will pick them up from their respective residences and take them to the state legislative Assembly,” he added.

KSU chief Lambok Starwell Marngar also informed that the pressure groups will also boycott all programmes of the cabinet ministers. “We will disrupt any programme attended by the cabinet ministers,” he said.

According to him, passing of the resolution will calm the prevailing situation arising out of the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 which seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“If the Centre can give ILP to Manipur, it should also consider extending the same protection to Meghalaya,” Marngar said.

He said the MDA government is also demanded to ensure the Governor grant his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. According to him, the tussle between state government and governor should be set aside.

Asked whether the pressure group would abandon the demand for the implementation of the comprehensive mechanism, FKJGP president said that they are demanding both ILP and MRSSA.

“We need to have layers of protective laws as ILP is silent on the illegal outsiders who have already settled in the state but the MRSSA is having the district task forces in place to check on this regard,” he said.

Rani also blamed NPP MP Agatha Sangma responsible for the law and order situation in the state by supporting the CAB in the parliament recently.

He further send a strong message to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre not to play with the sentiments of the indigenous people of Meghalaya and the North east region.