SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma made it clear on Wednesday that the Government would not allow pressure groups demanding introduction of inner line permit (ILP) system in the state to resort to violent agitations.
Replying to the debate on the Governor’s address in the assembly, he advised the pressure groups rather to engage in dialogue with the Government. “We are not hostile to our people,” the Chief Minister asserted.
“Agitations are healthy for democracy, but the Government cannot allow violent agitations in the state,” he said, wondering why the pressure groups thought that a confrontationist attitude would yield positive results to their demands despite the Government engaging in talks with them.
Explaining why the Government had taken a tough stand against pressure groups during the ILP agitation last year, he said the effort was to set a benchmark.
He felt there was a misconception that a confrontationist attitude would yield positive results for various demands. This was because there were precedents of pressure groups agitating and when they were called for discussions the Government succumbing to their demands.
“If we allow anyone to take advantage of long ropes, there has to be a time when the rope has to be pulled back,” Dr Sangma said. Stating that there were numerous court rulings on agitations, he said that the pressure groups call for agitations for their rights and curtail the rights of others.
“People agitate but the law has to be respected,” he said, adding there was a need to regulate the approach while engaging with the Government.
Border row: Speaking on the Meghalaya – Assam boundary row, the Chief Minister said he would propose to call a meeting of all political parties in the coming days to discuss the issue. The boundary dispute between the two states could be resolved only when both states were sincere. The issue could be resolved only through adialogue.
Pointing out that Assam had rejected the idea of involving the Union Government to settle the issue, Dr Sangma asserted that involving the Centre in the attempt to resolve the row would be time consuming.
According to Dr Sangma, Meghalaya needed to change its strategy in solving the issue even as he appealed all political parties to re-strategize their approaches and start dialogue on the issue.
He also asserted that the Government has started a Special Inter-state Border Development Programme for the development of the border areas and large funds had been earmarked under the scheme.