SHILLONG: The Congress politicians held a meeting with the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) on Monday with the latter seeking their support for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress Legislature Party leader Mukul Sangma said that the stand of pressure groups was consistent in their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Turning to the present situation, he said implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act in addition to ILP is crucial to protecting the indigenous people.
“We have made it abundantly clear that it is a necessity”, he said adding that the Union government is dividing the people by creating different parameters for different states.
He reiterated his suggestion to have the Sixth Schedule to be extended to other areas in the state which are not under its purview yet and stressed the need to take urgent steps as far as areas of differences are concerned to resolve the border dispute.
As for the stand of the Congress, he said, “This legislation (CAA) will have serious negative ramifications ultimately resulting in undoing the very basis of secular fabric enshrined in the Constitution of India”, he said.
Stating that the North East is home to diverse ethnic communities, he said the CAA will be a challenge to sustain the ethnic diversities of the communities.
According to the former Chief Minister, to tackle influx of illegal migrants, all possible means including intervention of the judiciary is needed.
Internet shutdown
Sangma expressed anger over internet shutdown in the state and recalled that no such drastic steps were taken when he was the CM despite the fight against militancy and other issues. He said resorting to such measure is bankruptcy of the idea of governance and condemned the attitude of the government which has affected trade, business and filing of GST.
With the Centre promoting Digital India, Sangma said the NPP-led government, which is an ally of the BJP, bolta kuch hai aur karta kuch aur (They say something and do something else).
The Congress wants the state government to restore internet services and not to resort to shutting down internet creating a panic situation, he said.
On Governor
As the swearing-in ceremony of the new Governor will be held on Tuesday, Sangma hoped that the action of the Union Government in sending the previous governor Tathagata Roy on leave gives an assurance that the Centre is sensitive to the sentiments of the people.
CoMSO to meet other politicians
The chairman of the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), Robert June Kharjahrin, will meet other politicians to garner support for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state since the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is a threat to the indigenous community.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Congress leaders, Kharjahrin said the party will support the demand for ILP as “the leader of opposition (Mukul Sangma) says it is a necessity”.
Kharjahrin pointed out that the Act will have serious impact on the economy of the state.
“There will be concerns for population explosion and economic development will be a huge problem. We are facing problems with employment given the scarce resources in our small state,” he added.
As for tourism, he said ILP will promote and not discourage tourism and appealed to all the 60 MLAs to support the resolution.
Besides, he said that the intentions of the people in coming to settle in India are not known.
Asked whether CoMSO discussed about Sangma’s statement in the past when he opposed ILP, Kharjahrin said, “It is better to leave the differences aside and move ahead in the interest of the state.”
