Why not Meghalaya: KSU criticises state, central govt on ILP stalemate

SHILLONG, Dec 10: The National People’s Party-led MDA government has failed to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state despite a promise in 2018 to do so.
As the implementation of ILP continues to hang fire, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which has been spearheading the ILP movement for the past many years, on Tuesday slammed the state government for its alleged lack of seriousness in following up the matter
“It seems the government lacks seriousness. Most of the time, they meet Mr A and B in New Delhi but nothing positive comes out of those meetings,” KSU president Lambok Marngar said.
“We are also pushing for ILP before the Centre but it is the duty of the state government to push it aggressively,” he said.
He questioned the government on the implementation of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016. The KSU is seeking a mechanism to check the influx of people in the state.
Lamenting that there is no communication either from the Centre or the state government on the matter, Marngar said the KSU and the people of the state are in the dark about what is actually going on as regards the ILP issue.
“The people of the state are waiting for a decision but the Centre seems to be still examining the matter. This shows they are not bothered about people’s voice,” Marngar said.
He recalled that the state’s all 60 legislators had unanimously passed a resolution in the Assembly in December 2019 urging the Centre to implement ILP. “If Manipur can be given ILP, why not Meghalaya?” he argued.