Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma told the assembly on Monday that the state government was awaiting the response of the Central Government on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
Replying to a Zero Hour notice moved by suspended Congress legislator Mayralborn Syiem, Sangma said that the seriousness of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government had been shown by the passing of the resolution on December 19, 2019, following the increasing demand for implementation of the ILP.
Sangma said the demand for ILP even grew stronger after implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with several NGOs convening meetings in and around the state expressing their dissent against the non-implementation of the ILP.
He said the resolution was sent to the MHA for consideration on December 23, 2019 and the government again approached the MHA on the matter through a letter dated November 17, 2020.
The Chief Minister further informed that the state government had also submitted a memorandum, which includes ILP as one of the demands, to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the state on February 23, last year.
He said that a delegation of local MLAs, which had also met the Union home minister in New Delhi on February 20, 2020 was informed that the Centre was examining the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and it was assured that the rights of the tribal people of the state would not be diluted.
The Chief Minister said that seven members from each of the seven NGOs met Shah and conveyed the importance of implementing ILP in the state.
“Several other local NGOs also demanded similar appointment with the union home minister but they were assured that they will be called to Delhi for further deliberation on the matter,” he told the assembly.
On August 17, NESO and other groups held a sit-in-demonstration in Shillong protesting the implementation of the CAA and to voice the demand for implementation of ILP.
The Chief Minister also said that the current law and order situation in the state was “peaceful and harmonious” and any report of protests and agitations were being effectively handled by the Meghalaya police.
