By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The debate over efficacy of Inner Line Permit (ILP) or three-tier card system echoed in the Assembly on Thursday with members airing radically opposite views.
While insisting that the three-tier card system is the best possible mechanism to check the problem of influx, Independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri took a dig at the High Level Committee (HLC) on influx issue.
He said the HLC tried to be “politically correct” by recommending implementation of the ILP.
“The HLC is playing to the gallery by making this recommendation. The fact is that we are busy playing politics and not serious to address the issue of influx,” Chaudhuri said, while deliberating on a pending motion during the Winter Assembly Session on Thursday on the need to put in place an effective mechanism to thwart inflow of outsiders into the State.
According to the independent legislator, the implementation of the ILP would require the amendment of the Constitution.
“With the prevailing political scenario at the national level, I don’t think anyone would come forward to support this proposal foe amendment of the Constitution to pave way for implementation of ILP,” Chaudhuri said, while adding that with the presence of disparate political elements at the Parliament, it would be difficult to get unanimity on the issue like this.
The Independent legislator also expressed his disappointment over the failure of the HLC to take the ethnic minority of the State into confidence while drafting the recommendations for an effective mechanism to address the problem influx.
Pending the implementation of the ILP, he suggested that the Government should consider implementing the three-tier card system for addressing the problem influx.
“The Government can immediately implement the three tier card system since it does not require any Constitutional amendment. We cannot further delay to put an effective mechanism since the matter requires immediate attention,” the legislator said.
He strongly believed that the three tier card system would take care of everybody’s interest.
“It would help to put an end to the problem of influx with a motive of occupying land and controlling business by people from outside,” Chaudhuri said.
Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the Government cannot deny the fact that the crux of the problem lies with the constant fear in the minds of the people that they will be outnumbered by outsiders.
“As a result of these apprehensions, most of the developmental works which are meant for the State were neither welcomed nor succeeded,” Basaiawmoit said.
While stating that most of the NGOs in the State are up in arms for introduction of ILP, he said that the fact is that the demand for ILP in the State has been dormant for several years.
“Due to the inability of the Government to come up with an effective mechanism, NGOs are compelled to revive this demand. I would also strongly subscribe to this idea of implementing this regulation in the State. Under the present context, the Government is left with no option but to implement the ILP for addressing the issue of influx,” Basaiawmoit said.
While objecting to the proposal of Chaudhuri to implement the three tier card system, he said that the main intention of the independent legislator to favour the implementation of three tier card ID was to include the genuine non-tribals into the categories of being permanent residents.
“This is only an attempt to keep the so called genuine non-tribals at par with the local indigenous population which is not acceptable at all,” he said.
The Nongkrem legislator also called for the exemption of the State from the purview of Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950.
“This treaty has become nemesis for the State as thousands of migrant labourers are flowing into the State taking advantage of the free movement under the treaty,” he said.
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh said that the Government should not waste any more time in addressing the issue of influx.
While stressing on the need to find the root causes which lead to this problem, he said that one of the major factors which led to the situation is that the State is totally dependent on the migrant workers from outside to work in the mines and in the industries.
While tackling the problem of influx, Lyngdoh maintained that all possible measures should be taken to ensure the economic activities do not get affected.
Last participant, Rajabala Congress legislator Sayeedullah Nongrum said that the issue of influx is raked up only before elections.
“I have been seeing this trend for the past 20 years,” Nongrum said.
He said that the only thing he wants is that the Government should take immediate steps to put in place an effective mechanism so that there is no harassment of the genuine non-tribals.
Bindo’s response: In his reply, Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong said that the HLC has not overlooked the three-tier identity card system.
“The three-tier identity card has also been incorporated in the report of the HLC which would be submitted to the State Government,” Lanong said, while adding that the HLC has no authority to take a call on the mechanism which is going to be implemented to address the influx issue. “The Committee has been set up with a specific purpose. Our role is to recommend to the Government the various mechanisms which would help to address the issue of influx,” Lanong, who is also the chairman of the Committee, said. He also asserted that the Government would take a final call on the effective mechanism which would be implemented to address this burning issue.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed that a Task Force on influx has been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to monitor the progress of implementation of a mechanism to check influx, consider fresh initiatives to check influx and also consider any other issues having direct bearing on influx.
Based on the decisions of the Task Force, a number of initiatives were taken which included creation of the anti-influx wing, rejuvenation of the Task Force at the district level, formation of joint squads with personnel of the Labour department, Infiltration Directorate and a magistrate for field operations.