SHILLONG, JULY 12: National People’s Party (NPP) president and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma wants that the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA – II) coalition government should immediately implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as a ‘stop-gap-arrangement’ to check influx into the state, untill a ‘comprehensive-mechanism’ is in place.
Sangma told reporters after a meeting on Friday said, “We are not going into merit and demerits of the ILP but our main focus is on the real and serious problem of influx.”
Sangma though made it clear that the NPP is not against people coming to the state but against those settling in Meghalaya. Sangma said, “There are 10 million Indians who are working in Middle East but all have proper permit so when the time ends they have to leave the place.
Legislator James K Sangma, NPP spokesperson, said that the party wants immediate implementation of the ILP as a stop-gap-arrangement besides implementation of the identity card system for genuine citizens and work permit to curb the illegal influx into the state till the government is ready with its so-called comprehensive-mechanism.
The NPP meeting held on Friday unanimously resolve to demand the implementation of the ILP following the inability and delaying of the state government to come up with a comprehensive mechanism to tackle the issue.
Criticizing the failure of the state government to come up with a proper mechanism to address the influx and illegal migration issues which the NPP said has created a deep sense of insecurity amongst the indigenous population of the state.
“We have totally lost confident in the promises of the Chief Minister who made tall claims and promised to develop a mechanism that can check influx,” James Sangma saying that now only the implementation of the ILP can help resolve the issue.
Batting for the ILP, NPP working president Conrad K Sangma said, “Development is important but we need to know our priorities. We can’t let go of our identity for the sake of economic development.”
He said keeping all factors in mind, the NPP wants the government to implement the ILP until and unless the so-called comprehensive mechanism is introduced.
Meanwhile state ngos decided to hold a series of public meetings in the six Khasi-Jaintia hills districts of the state to garner public support on the introduction of ILP in the state.
“We have decided to hold public meetings to enlighten the public on the importance of implementing the ILP, which will commence from July 18,” FKJGP president Joe Marwein told reporters after the meeting of all ngos.
Marwein informed that the public meetings will be held at Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi district on July 18, Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi hills on July 20, Khliehriat, East Jaintia hills on July 22, Nongstoin, West Khasi hills on July 24, Jowai, West Jaintia hills on July 29 and in Shillong, East Khasi hills district, the date will be decided later. – By Our Reporter
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