SHILLONG, May 12: The KSU on Sunday impressed upon the NPP-led MDA Government to pursue the demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya once the new government is formed at the Centre.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said if the Centre can grant ILP to Manipur, then Meghalaya is more deserving since Khasi-Jaintia Hills was mentioned in the Preamble of the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation of 1873.
“The state government should question whether this delay (ILP) was because there was no BJP government in the state. The government needs to put this question across since everything should not only be about politics. Safeguarding the interest of the minorities should be the priority of the government,” Thabah said.
According to him, the state needs ILP besides further empowering the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to protect the interest of the indigenous tribes of the state “We will need ILP otherwise we will become minorities in our land,” he remarked.
The KSU general secretary said that they will want protection under Article 371 (G), which provides special provisions for the state of Mizoram.
Raising another pressing issue, the KSU leader pointed to the need to protect the people living along the interstate as well as international border.
He stated that people residing in the border villages are suffering, while emphasising that the government needs to resolve the interstate boundary dispute with Assam at the earliest to prevent frequent skirmishes which may even lead to loss of previous lives, while citing the case of Langpih and Mukroh.
He also stated that there are no such skirmishes in Garo Hills region since there are no boundary disputes.
Meanwhile, the KSU reiterated its stand on immediate implementation of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) or the ILP to regulate entry of outsiders into the state.
“We need immediate implementation of MRSSA/ILP to regulate entry of outsiders,” said Thabah. He said this while talking about an incident wherein a vehicle full of labourers was found passing through the infiltration gate at Aradonga without valid documents.
On Saturday, the KSU members apprehended a vehicle (AS 18 AC 6193) which was ferrying labourers from Assam passing through the infiltration check gate at Aradonga.
The labourers did not possess valid documents and many did not even have a voter ID card or Aadhar card, while they were heading to Ummulong, West Jaintia.
Criticising the staff of the infiltration check gate for their shoddy work, the KSU slammed the recklessness in carrying their duties.
