ILP meeting: UDP, HSPDP unhappy

SHILLONG, SEPT 5: The regional parties United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Hills State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) are unhappy over the refusal of the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II government of Mukul Sangma to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya during the all party meeting convened on Thursday.

The two regional parties had suggested along the line with the ngos for implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya for checking illegal immigration into the state which was turned down by chief minister Mukul Sangma saying it was an outdated and redundant law.

UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh said, “We are not happy with the outcome of the meeting.” He informed that the UDP will stand by its decision to support the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Influx on the need to introduce ILP to curb influx.

Lyngdoh said, “There are seven ministers who are part of the HLC and most of whom are also in the government now. They, too, have agreed to the proposed recommendation of the committee to the state government.”

HSPDP vice president Ardent Basaiawmoit too is peeved with the government for turning down the suggestion for implementing ILP in the state. He said, “The state government is clear that it will not implement the ILP.” He informed that the HSPDP will sit and chalk out its future course of action on the issue.

The political parties who are in the Opposition– the United Democratic Party, Hills State Peoples Democratic Party, National People’s Party and the Garo National Council- attended the meeting and bat for the recommendation of the High Level Committee (HLC) on Influx constituted by the previous Meghalaya United Alliance – I for implementing the ILP to control illegal immigration into the state.

Paul Lyngdoh said that the ILP may be structured in a manner that allows the  participation of traditional institutions and also due care must be taken so that genuine residents of the state are not subject to undue harassment.

Terming  the ILP as an outdated and redundant law, chief minister Mukul Sangma said  the ILP is incapable of negating influx of outsiders. He said the ILP was legislated by the British to suit their interests and questioned the very essence of implementing such a law to deal with the present situation.

Sangma, however , spelled out his government’s initiatives in countering influx of which he informed the meeting that the draft bill of Tenancy Regulation Act, 2013 would be completed within this month and the public consultation by October first week.

This apart, Sangma also said the government has also mooted to activate the district level task forces headed by the deputy commissioners, the speedy recruitment of labour inspectors in all 39 blocks and the setting up of the Infiltration directorate.

Sangma said, “It is important for us to take along people who are contributing to the state to be able to come and go without having to stay here, which, if ILP is implemented, it will stop them.” According to him the ILP would only provide rooms for manipulation and corruption and it will also affect the tourism industry.

Defending the government’s decision not to implement the ILP, Sangma said so much of investment have been created in agri- horticulture in the state and therefore farmers must have access to the markets. He was of the opinion this will happen only if people can come and buy and there is no monopoly over the market.-By Our Reporter