SHILLONG, AUG 16: The ngos batting for introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya have given a deadline of August 29 for the Meghalaya government to set in motion the implementation of ILP or else they warned of intensive agitation immediately. The decision was taken at public meeting held on Friday at Motphran.
Shops and business establishments in Khyndailad ( Police Bazaar) and Motphran downed their shutters during the meeting fearing vandalism by protestors. However, the meeting went off peacefully. The procession which the ngos had decided to take up to the state secretariat after the meeting was cancelled as the government has already invited them for talk.
The state police made heavy security bandobast in and around the city, especially commercial areas, to prevent any untoward incident from occurring during and after the public rally.
Hundreds of people including members from the different ngos attended the public rally.
On the issue of introduction of the ILP to check influx into the state, the state government has invited the NGOs for a consultative meeting on August 29.
Addressing the public rally KSU president Daniel Khyriem warned, “If the state government fails to implement the ILP on August 29, we will immediately announce series of agitations.”
Khyriem said the ngos had tolerated enough and the government has made them wait more than eleven months but had failed to respond to their demand.
Khyriem said, “We demand that the state government should immediately consider the recommendation of High Level Committee on Influx headed by then deputy chief minister Bindo M Lanong for implementation of ILP.”
Speakers at the meeting expressed their concern over the nonchalant attitude of the state government on the issue of implementing the ILP in the state.
Garo Students’ Union (GSU) president Tengsak G Momin said, “Government hear this, the people of Meghalaya are ready for inner line permit and we are ready to fight till the end for safeguarding our land and the people.”
Momin warned, “Let the government understand that we are serious and there will be no retrieve till we achieved what we have demanded for.”
FKJGP president Joe Marwein who also spoke informed that the 2011 census clearly indicated the abnormal increase of population in the state. He said that the ngos believe that only the ILP can be a proper mechanism to check illegal influx that is threatening the tribal minorities of the state.
Jaintia Students Union (JSU) president Rikut N Parien said that the government must not give the impression that the ILP will hinder development in the state. He said, “By implementing the ILP it will not stop people from coming to the state but will prevent illegal settlement, which is a dangerous trend that if not correct at right time will affect the state demography in a big way.” – By Our Reporter
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