SHILLONG, JAN 23: Several pressure groups, who are demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), on Saturday expressed disappointment after they were not given time to discuss the issue with the union home minister, Amit Shah.
During his official visit to the state, Shah met a delegation of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Cabinet as well as the pressure groups. He however could not hold any discussion but only assured to meet them very soon in New Delhi.
Confused over the turn of events, leaders of the different pressure groups immediately sought clarification from chief minister Conrad K Sangma in a meeting held at the main secretariat.
After the meeting, Sangma told reporters that due to certain programmes that came up in Assam, Shah’s programme changed and he had to go back.
“So based on that there was change in the appointments and the Home Minister’s office requested that he may not be able to sit down with the Cabinet and the organisations who had sought appointment,” Sangma added.
“But on insistence of the government of Meghalaya that at least an opportunity to hand over the memorandums should be given and he agreed to that and based on that we submitted one memorandum from the government and the organizations also submitted their memorandums to the union home minister,” he said.
The chief minister further informed that the union home minister has assured to meet both the Cabinet and the pressure groups in New Delhi.
“He (Shah) has conveyed through me that he will be happy to meet the Cabinet and the other organizations in Delhi. He has asked my office to coordinate and based on which we will be seeking an appointment now to go to Delhi maybe sometimes when the parliament starts,” he said.
Asked if centre is serious in implementing ILP in Meghalaya, the CM however said “We will be discussing that when we go to Delhi as we were not being able to discuss these matters today.”
In the memorandum submitted to Shah, Sangma said, “We (MDA) have reiterated the resolution was passed by the state Assembly for ILP implementation and we have urged the Centre to consider that. We have also mentioned about the Sixth Schedule and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.”
The pressure groups which met the union home minister includes the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Confederation of Social Organizations of Meghalaya (CoMSO).
Expressing disappointment, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said, “We are not happy with the outcome of the meeting as we were not given time to discuss ILP issue with the union home minister.”
Terming it is as an insult to the state government and to the people of the state, Marngar said this is because that one year has lapsed since the resolution for ILP implementation was passed by the state Assembly.
“We expect that the HM will send a message to the people of the state. we are very confused that is why we have met the CM to know the outcome of the meeting held between them. The CM told us that the HM will invite us to Delhi to discuss this matter since the HM has a tight schedule due to Assam’s election,” he said.
Marngar however said the KSU along with the other NGOs will soon sit to decide on their future course of action as he maintained that the democratic movement for demanding ILP in Meghalaya will continue.
Expressing similar sentiments, CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “We are very disappointed as we have very high hope that at least union home minister will discuss so that we know the status of the ILP resolution but that failed so we cannot keep quiet at this point of time as people are eager to have ILP.”
Asked, he said the chief minister has informed that the union home minister will be meeting both the Cabinet and leaders of social organizations in Delhi most likely in the first week of February.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours