SHILLONG, July 15: The demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873 has been hanging fire for over four decades but with the 2023 Assembly election drawing closer, the issue has resurfaced once again with the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) making a pitched demand for implementation of the permit system to regulate the entry of outsiders into the state.
While continuing to rake up the demand for ILP, the KSU has also continued with its opposition to the introduction of railways in the state, particularly the eastern part of Meghalaya, to prevent influx.
On Thursday, the KSU had broken its silence on the contentious issue and had warned the state government and the 60 MLAs against playing with the sentiments of the people by delaying the ILP.
A day later, the Union made it crystal clear that they want the ILP and not railways, and urged Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and speed up the implementation of ILP.
“It is a simple reply to the Union minister of state. Let him talk with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to speed up the process for implementation of ILP. We do not want railways, we want ILP,” KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said.
Making their intention clear, the Union said, “Unless a strong mechanism like ILP is put in place we cannot discuss the railway proposal.”
During his recent visit to the state, Teli had disclosed that the Centre’s proposal to connect Shillong with the railway network was reviewed and discussions were held to speed up the process of conducting surveys.
The Union MoS had also mentioned that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s desire to see that railways reach Meghalaya.
