SHILLONG, Dec 26: Former East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday said the people of Meghalaya should not expect the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state till the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
She said the Centre will have a lot of other things to concentrate on during the intervening period.
“The ILP will be in the back-burner till 2024 when the country goes to Parliamentary elections,” she said.
She assured that she will partner with the National People’s Party (NPP) and other parties on the ILP issue. She said people in the state must not forget that all 60 MLAs had signed the resolution passed in the Assembly in 2019 to urge the Centre on the implementation of the ILP.
“If we have a strong government, it will decide on matters including the ILP. The NPP and its coalition partners have taken a decision to operationalise the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) which, I feel, is a step in the right direction,” Lyngdoh said.
According to her, certain provisions of the ILP should be incorporated into the MRSSA to make it stronger.
“Certain corrections were also made in the MRSSA to make it pro-people and pro-tourism in nature,” she said, adding there are no reasons why Meghalaya should not be able to convince the Centre on the ILP.
She was confident that the NPP will be able to solve the state’s protracted border disputes with Assam.
“The interstate border issue is going to get handled by the NPP. The party has already taken a very strong position on the issue,” Lyngdoh claimed.
Stating that the problem in the first phase has been already resolved, she said it will be a people-based decision – similar to the one taken in the first phase – in the second and final phase.
On the issue of inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, she said the state government has already sent necessary documentations to the Centre in support of the demand.
Lyngdoh welcomed the decision that the members will be allowed to converse in the two languages during proceedings in the state Assembly from next year. She hailed the ruling parties for taking this “good step”. According to her, the issue has been partially addressed. On the peace talks with the HNLC, she suggested the need to adopt a resolution and formulate a proper action plan for ensuring the process reaches its logical conclusion.
“We would like to see this is put behind us. All other insurgent groups have already been brought to the mainstream. I feel it is an agenda that people like (Mohendro) Rapsang and I have already brought before the NPP,” the former MLA said.
She further said that all parties in the government should own responsibility on the issue of law-and-order situation in the state.
“In the event of more experienced players joining the NPP, we foresee that Home, Revenue and other very vital departments are put under the supervisions of senior and more experienced individuals. We need to make sure that the police force is given the necessary backup. This will help the government toughen the stand in the years to come,” she added.
