SHILLONG, Sep 15: Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie on Thursday asked the state government to pass another resolution in the House to remind the Centre of the state’s long-pending demand for implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
Raising the matter during the question hour, Sawkmie said three years have passed since the Assembly had passed the resolution. “I would like to suggest if the House can pass another resolution to remind the Centre,” he said.
He recalled that the Manipur Assembly had passed three resolutions on ILP before it was finally granted.
The MLA also asked the government to assign a senior cabinet minister and a senior government official to continuously pursue the ILP demand with the Centre.
Sawkmie also suggested that the government should utilise the services of the three MPs from the state to pursue the demand with the Centre since they are mostly stationed in Delhi.
In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the matter was being followed up continuously by the state government with the Centre.
“The government is awaiting a response from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The state government is taking all possible steps to urge the Centre to examine and consider the proposal,” he said.
“It is a process and it requires continuous engagement with the Government of India. The fact that we have passed this resolution in 2019 is the most serious step that we have taken till date to show our concern and our stand on the ILP,” he said.
According to him, the state government has sent the resolution and two letters besides one memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Sangma also said the MPs have been raising the ILP demand in the Parliament from time to time.
