SHILLONG, Jan 23: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah did not find time to meet members of the state cabinet and the pressure groups to discuss the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue due to a sudden change in the latter’s programme schedule.
“He was supposed to stay back in Shillong and based on that itinerary we had sought time from him for the cabinet members and certain organizations who had requested the government for an audience. The Union Home Minister was also keento meet them but due to some programmes that came up in Assam his schedule changed and he had to go back,” the chief minister said.
He however informed that the state government submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister. Other organisations also submitted memoranda, he added.
The chief minister further informed that Shah has conveyed a message to the state cabinet through him that he would be happy to meet the cabinet members and other organisations in the national capital.
“He has asked my office to coordinate with the MHA and based on that we will be seeking appointments for the cabinet as well as other organisations,” Sangma said.
Asked about his meeting with the Union Home Minister, Sangma said, “We discussed development issues and a lot of positive suggestions also came out.”
“One of important points discussed was about steps to be taken by the Northeastern states to improve the overall situation in the region apart from the fact that the Government of India was doing its best to support the NE states in terms of finance and policy formulation,” Sangma said.
