SHILLONG/New Delhi, Dec 14: The National People’s Party is unhappy with the Centre’s reply on the issue of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the ongoing Parliament session.
The party, a constituent of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government, said it will continue to exert pressure on the Centre until it gets a yes or no for an answer.
“We are not satisfied and that is why we are pursuing the matter until there’s a clear-cut reply,” NPP national vice-president and Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said on Tuesday.
State NPP president W.R. Kharlukhi had raised some questions on the ILP demand in the Upper House.
Apart from the status of the demand, answers were sought from the government on whether or not ILP would be implemented. The government was also asked to give reasons for any move not to implement the ILP or provide the estimated time of completion.
A statement in response read: “The ILP system came into existence in 1873 with the promulgation of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR). It is reviewed from time to time. Presently, it is in existence in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.”
“Both our MPs are trying to take up this issue on any platform, not only in Parliament,” Tynsong said.
“We are maintaining the pressure on the Centre. The Chief Minister keeps meeting the Prime Minister and Home Minister whenever he goes to Delhi for any work,” he added.
The Centre seems to have no plans for introducing the ILP in Meghalaya despite a unanimous resolution in the state Assembly.
The Centre’s intention became clear to Kharlukhi when Nityanand Rai, the Minister of State for Home Affairs gave a stock reply in Parliament on how ILP is government by the BEFR of 1873. He also informed the Upper House about the states where the ILP is currently applicable.
The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution on December 19, 2019, urging the Centre to implement the ILP in the state.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and supported by all members of the House cutting across party lines.
The Ministers, MLAs and members of pressure groups met Home Minister Amit Shah on several occasions.
