SHILLONG/TURA: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has asked the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to convene a meeting of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) and also a Cabinet meeting to get a clear picture on their stand on Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Different pressure groups under the umbrella of CoMSO held a black flag protest to demand the implementation of ILP to tackle influx on Tuesday starting from Motphran till Khyndailad.
Eight organisations from Garo Hills also joined the daylong Black Flag Day protest in the state by putting up banners in different corners of Tura to support the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations for implementation of the Inner Line Permit.
“The main objective of the programme is to protest against Meghalaya government for not fulfilling their promises to insert the proviso of ILP in ‘The Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act, 2016 by way of Amendment in the last Assembly Session,” said CoMSO vice chairman Nikman Marak.
He added that the demand is of utmost importance to safeguard the rights and interests of the indigenous people of Meghalaya and further warned of agitation to fulfill the demand.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and CoMSO member, Roy Kupar Synrem said the organisations want a copy of the proceedings of the meeting of the MDA meeting and Cabinet meeting to know who supports or rejects ILP.
He pointed to contradictory statement even within the MDA government wherein Sangma asserted that the ILP should not be turned into an issue while the Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the government is mulling an ILP like mechanism in the state.
With the ILP picture appearing hazy, he said the MDA coalition partners and the Cabinet ministers should place a demand before the CM to convene a meeting on ILP.
Synrem also questioned the regional parties who are partners in the MDA on their stand on ILP.
The organisations have threatened to intensify agitation if the state government does not implement ILP. Member of CoMSO, Lamphrang Kharbani said, “The black flag protest is only the beginning. If the state government refuses to implement ILP in the state, we will prepare aggressive agitations in the days to come.”
When asked about Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, Synrem maintained that they will not accept the Act in its present form which he described as toothless.
“The four provisions of ILP should be included in the Act. We leave it to the wisdom of the state government whether to enforce the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act or any other Act” he said.
The four provisions which the organisations demanded are that no one is allowed to enter or settle in the state without the permission of the state, the person/persons will have to inform about the number of days’ of stay, to penalise any person who enters the state illegally and that no one is allowed to stay beyond 179 days.
Earlier, members of CoMSO tied black flags on cars, barricades and railings and pinned black ribbons on people. A senior Sikh man on seeing the flag being tied to a railing in Motphran asked Synrem, “What is this for?” to which Synrem said, “This is for ILP.”
The black flag protests were held across the state.
