SHILLONG: Pro-inner line permit (ILP) groups have expressed dissatisfaction over the state government’s “failure” to set up entry and exit points to keep a check on illegal immigrants.
“We are not satisfied with the functioning of the state government. It has been for more than four years and nothing has been done yet to set up the entry and exit points,” KSU president Lambok Marngar said on Wednesday.
As many as 13 pro-ILP groups are demanding setting up of entry and exit points. Eighteen of them will be set up in three phases.
“We want Phase 1, which includes places such Malidor (East Jaintia Hills), Byrnihat (Ri-Bhoi) and Athiabari (Meghalaya-Assam border), to be completed,” Marngar said.He further said there should be some progress as the state government has already identified land for setting up entry and exit points in some parts of Jaintia Hills.
“However, the government has not provided a clear picture with regard to putting up the entry and exit points in certain places,” Marngar said.
Reacting to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s statement that ILP campaigners should keep a watch on RSS, Marngar asserted that the pro-ILP groups view influx as a general issue and not just one that is linked to RSS.
He further said there were several occasions in which the members of the union got arrested after they checked work and residential permits of suspected illegal immigrants.
“The state government should empower NGOs to conduct inspection of illegal immigrants and not intervene at that time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), general secretary, Sadon Blah said, “At least, the CM has accepted the reality of influx of migrants in the state. But we don’t want to take influx as a political agenda of any political party. It is not just the RSS even Muslim immigrants are also there.”
On the other hand, pointing that the rules for the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Bill have been framed, Marngar said till date the state government did not give any instruction to the district administration to constitute a district task force.
Influx of migrants from Assam
With Assam having released the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), there is an apprehension that those not recognised as citizens of Assam may cross over to seek refuge in Meghalaya.
In this connection, Marngar pointed to the need for the state government to take up the matter of influx of illegal immigrants seriously.
Echoing the voices of the 13 organisations, the break-away faction of KSU, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) in a separate press conference told reporters that Meghalaya was a safe haven for suspected illegal immigrants from Assam.
Observing that Meghalaya would be the first victim of NRC from Assam, general secretary of HYC, Robert Kharjahrin observed that the immigrants would not prefer states like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram that have ILP in place while Manipur is on alert in regard to any influx threat.
“The consequence of NRC will be mass influx of people from Assam to Meghalaya. Hence, ILP and other legislations should be implemented in the state,” general secretary of HYC, Robert Kharjahrin said.
“The pro-ILP groups and HYC have called the traditional institutions to be immigration watchdogs,” he added.
ILP demand
Marngar reiterated the organisations’ demand for implementation of ILP even as they continue their demand for a comprehensive mechanism to check influx of migrants.
“ILP will remain ILP and a comprehensive mechanism will remain as a comprehensive mechanism,” he said.
