‘Bifurcate M’laya to pave way for ILP implementation’
NONGPOH: In a significant turn of event, the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) on Friday joined the bandwagon of the HSPDP and GNC demanding bifurcation of Meghalaya into two states – one for Khasis and Jaintias and the others for Garos.
The RBYF also asserted that the 13 pressure groups have not retracted from their demand for implementation of ILP in the State but they have decided to go for a modified ILP to suit the need of the hour as the ILP had been repealed from Garo Hills as per the Repeal Act 1897 as mentioned in the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, RBYF president Bipul Thangkhiew said in a press communiqué issued on Friday evening.
He asserted that after bifurcation of Meghalaya, a separate state for Khasis and Jaintias will be created which will pave way for implementation of ILP in its present form in the ‘newly-created’ Khasi-Jaintia state.
The RBYF called upon the regional parties in power in KHADC – especially KHNAM and HSPDP who have been raising the issue of ILP from time to time – to look into the United Khasi Jaintia Hills (Application of Law) Regulation, 1952, and examine whether there is any authorization to implement the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, within the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
Clarifying the stand of the pro-ILP pressure groups on the modified ILP, the RBYF president said the decision to go for the modified ILP was taken after proper examination of the existing state acts on checking influx and also after the realization that ILP cannot be implemented in its present form as it had been repealed in Garo Hills in 1897.
The RBYF, through the communiqué, urged the State Government to put into action the recommendation of the pressure groups to pave for development and progress of the State and avoid “any unnecessary show of strength”.