SHILLONG: Despite Chief Minister’s refusal to hold talks with agitating groups on the issue of ILP, the senior minister in the Congress-led coalition Government, Rowell Lyngdoh has said door of Government is always open for dialogue.
“Government is open for dialogue with pro-ILP groups on any demand,” Lyngdoh said when asked whether the Government will discuss ILP since it is the key demand of the agitating groups.
Lyngdoh, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Law, however, said that it is the Centre not the state government which can take the final call on implementation of ILP.
For almost two months, the state government and pro-ILP organizations are at loggerheads over implementation of ILP system.
While the NGOs are harping on implementation of ILP in the State, the State Government is focusing on the Meghalaya Regulation of Landlords and Tenants Verification Bill.
Adding a new element to the issue, the KSU, part of NGOs demanding implementation of ILP, had on Tuesday said that the NGOs wanted a modified ILP to suit the local situations and urged the legislators to air their views in this regard.
Non-tribal board: Meanwhile, in view of the recent incident at Motphran in which businessman Vikash Nandwani died after he was set on fire by miscreants, the Meghalaya Gorkha Ex Servicemen Welfare Association has urged the State Government to form a Non-Tribal Security and Welfare Board in the state. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the Secretary of the Association AK Thapa also asserted that the State Government should appoint non-tribal headmen in the three general Assembly constituencies of East Khasi Hills.
