By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Joining the growing clamour for introduction of the Inner Line Permit (IPL) system in Meghalaya, ten influential NGOs of the State, led by the KSU and FKJGP, marched from the KSU office in Jaiaw and held a sit-in-demonstration at the Additional Secretariat Parking Lot on Monday.
Asserting that this was an ‘issue of life and death’ for the indigenous population of the State, the NGOs urged the State legislators to impress upon the Government to implement the ILP in the fight against influx and entry of illegal migrants into the State.
“We think that the legislators, cutting across party lines, should raise their voice in favour of the ILP during the three-day Assembly session starting from September 5 in the overall interest of the indigenous community. We all believe that there is no other mechanism to fight influx and restrict entry of illegal immigrants into the State other than the ILP,” the NGOs argued.
KSU president Daniel Khyriem said that majority of the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who enter the State do not come through the Indo-Bangladesh border.
“We should realize that most of them have come from Assam bypassing the check gates,” Khyriem said.
FKJGP working president Joe Marwein said they have met three prominent legislators – Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma, UDP legislators Paul Lyngdoh and Ardent M Basaiawmoit – urging their support in their movement for introduction of ILP.
“We have urged them to press the government to adopt a resolution to implement the Inner Line Permit,” Marwein said while, questioning that if the Manipur government can pass a resolution in the Assembly to implement the ILP they why the Meghalaya Government cannot do the same.
The FKJGP working president also stated that the recent Kokrajhar incident in Assam should be an eye-opener for the people of the State.
Earlier, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had rejected the demand of the NGOs to introduce the ILP, claiming that the Government is intending to put in a mechanism which would be more effective than the ILP in checking influx and entry of illegal migrants.