SHILLONG: The Conglomeration of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoHSO) and AGHJAC have asserted that they want Inner Line Permit (ILP) to be implemented throughout the state.
CoHSO chairman Robert June Kharjahrin, in a statement issued here on Thursday said that right from the beginning, they have been demanding implementation of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 adding though that another bill will have to brought in the Parliament if it is to be enforced in Garo Hills.
He said that there are NGOs who are insisting on implementation of the existing Meghalaya Residents Safety and Regulation Act, 2016, but they feel it is not adequate to safeguard the indigenous population.
“It is for this reason that we are demanding that the provisions in line with the ILP should be incorporated in the existing act through an amendment,” Kharjahrin said.
Stating that it would take a long time to amend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 for enforcing it in the Garo Hills, he said that they now want the state government to expedite the process of amending the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Regulation Act, 2016.
He also said that they have urged upon the state to strengthen the check gates to prevent influx.
“We have also made it very clear that if the government does not incorporate the provisions of the ILP then we will not accept the proposed amendment of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Regulation Act,” he said.
He said if the state government cannot convene a special session of the Assembly then it should issue an ordinance for amending the act.
