Agitation: Bandh, picketing, blockade

ilpSHILLONG, SEPT 15:The ngos demanding for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya announced the third phase of their agitations that will include a statewide office picketing, night road-blockade and a 24 hours bandh from September 17, 19, and 20 even as it warned to intensify its stir until the state government implement ILP  in the state.

The unanimous decision was finalized at a meeting of the ten ngos held at an undisclosed location on Sunday morning.

On September 17 and 19, we have decided to call for a statewide office picketing followed by night road blockade in the evening, KSU vice president Fredrick Kharmawphlang informed over phone after the meeting here.

Kharmawphlang however said the timing for the night road blockade will start from 7 pm to 5 am on September 17 and from 9 pm to 5 am on September 19.

The ngos have decided not to call any agitations on September 18 because of the Unitarian Day celebration in the state.

The 24 hours “bandh” will start from 5 am on September 20 (just after the night road blockade is over) to 5am of September 21,Kharmawphlang informed.

“Our demand on the need to immediately implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) will stand and we have vowed that we will intensify our stir until the state government implements the ILP in the state,” Kharmawphlang said.

The opposition political parties under the banner of the Meghalaya People’s Forum (MPF) which includes the United Democratic Party (UDP), National People’s Party (NPP) and others have demanded the ‘resignation’ of Mukul Sangma as the chief ministerial for his failure to address to different issues including demand for ILP, statehood, deteriorating law and order and teachers’ grievances.

When asked to comment on the MPF demands, Kharmawphlang however said that the ngos having nothing to do with such demands.

Kharmawphlang said, “We are not interested whether Mukul Sangma is stepping-down or not,” he said adding “Our message and stand is clear that the ILP should be immediately implemented. Let any government comes but our demand will remain the same and will not change.”

Saying that it is important to implement the ILP to stop illegal influx, Kharmawphlang further said that the people in the state should understand that they are the rightful owners of the land and it will be too late if time is wasted in protecting it.  He urged the people come forward and support the demand for the implementation of the ILP at the earliest.

Kharmawphlang made it clear that there is no turning back from the demand and will do whatever it takes to ensure that ILP is implemented in the state. He also said that the next phase of agitation will be announced after the third phase is over.-By Our Reporter

 

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