By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While condemning the State Government for its failure to settle the long pending inter-State boundary dispute with Assam, the HSPDP has also criticized the Government for its lack of concern in putting in place a strong mechanism to address the problem of influx.
“The Government should have resolved the Inter-State boundary dispute since this a long pending issue. But it is due to the lack of concern on the part of the Government that the issue has continued to linger for many years,” HSPDP East Khasi Hills newly elected president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said after the general body meeting here on Thursday.
While referring to the issue of illegal immigrants and influx, Basaiawmoit said that the Government should have put in place a full proof mechanism to address the problem of influx long time back.
“But sadly the Government has allowed this issue to aggravate,” he said.
When asked if the inner line permit (ILP) would curb influx, the HSPDP leader said, “ILP is not a panacea to influx but one of the mechanisms to check unregulated influx.”
On the biometric enrolment being implemented in the state for the National Population Register (NPR), Basaiawmoit said that the HSPDP would soon meet to discuss on the project.
“Personally, I strongly feel that until and unless the government comes up with an effective mechanism to check influx it is not the time for NPR,” he said.
He however said that they will chalk out strategies to pressurize the government and if it continues to turn a deaf ear to our demands.
“We would not hesitate to come to take to the streets if the situation reached a saturation point,” Basiawmoit said.
In recent past, the HSPDP which is known to be party to have a stronghold in West Khasi Hills have improved its hold its stronghold other parts in the State.
About five hundred supporters gathered in East Khasi Hills to elect party workers and formed the women’s and youth wings of the party.
“The party is seeing a climb. We should not forget that it is an established party in the State and the sudden acceptance is a kind of resurgence of the party in the present times,” Basaiawmoit observed.
Besides Basaiawmoit, the newly elected members of the East Khasi Hills HSPDP are Lastborn Kharsati (vice president), Prof Arwat Rumnong (general secretary), Shemborlang Rynjah (assistant general secretary) among others.