From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 7: Shillong Lok Sabha member, Ricky AJ Syngkon on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his help for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya, inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of Constitution and resumption of Delhi-Shillong flight etc.
The PM assured the VPP MP that he will look into the demands. Modi spent about ten minutes with Syngkon and discussed the state of affairs in Meghalaya.
“Each of the above issues holds deep significance for the socio-economic and cultural well-being of the people of Meghalaya,” the memorandum said. “These steps will meaningfully improve connectivity, reduce travel hardships and support the state’s integration with the nation,” he added.
The Meghalaya Assembly passed resolutions on these demands and all-party delegations submitted unanimous demands to the Centre in recent past but in vain. The PM went through the memorandum and assured support, Syngkon told The Shillong Times after the meeting.
He said the Khasi language, spoken by about 14 lakh of Meghalaya’s indigenous population as well as in some neighbouring states and the country, is a vital symbol of the state’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
He said despite its widespread use and literary tradition, it is yet to get constitutional recognition, which is a long-cherished aspiration of the people of Meghalaya.
On ILP, the VPP leader said its non-implementation continues to be a matter of deep concern for the state’s indigenous communities.
“The people of the state are increasingly alarmed by the growing influx of migrants, including those coming from Bangladesh, and by reports of unauthorised settlements and encroachments on tribal lands, particularly in sensitive border and fringe areas,” he said.
This demographic pressure poses a serious threat to the cultural identity, land rights, and socio-economic security of the tribal population of Meghalaya, the memorandum said.
It added that the ILP system, already in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, is viewed as a necessary and legitimate protective mechanism to regulate the entry of outsiders and preserve the unique tribal character of the state.
“Granting ILP status in a time-bound manner would fulfil a long-pending aspiration of the people and reinforce their trust in the constitutional safeguards provided to indigenous communities,” Syngkon said.
He further stated that there is a growing public demand for the restoration and strengthening of air connectivity from Shillong Airport (Umroi) to key destinations in the Northeast, particularly Dimapur, Agartala and Silchar. These routes were previously operational under the UDAN scheme but faced discontinuity or limited frequency in recent times.
Dimapur, Silchar and Agartala airports are better connected to cities like New Delhi via direct flight, he pointed out. Strengthening these connections from Shillong would enable citizens of Meghalaya to access direct metro-bound flights through these hubs, eliminating the need for long and costly road travel to Guwahati just to catch a flight to a major city, he said.
Further, he stated that the 443-km Meghalaya-Bangladesh border, which runs through hilly, forested terrain with large unfenced and hard-to-access stretches, makes it highly vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, illegal migration etc.
“Among the pressing governance and security concerns facing Meghalaya are two unresolved border-related matters – one pertaining to the international boundary with Bangladesh, and the other to the interstate boundary with Assam,” the MP said.
He said both issues carry deep implications for the safety, stability, and democratic integrity of the region, and merit immediate policy attention.
Syngkon demanded the deployment of additional three battalions of BSF besides the current 9 battalions to combat this problem. He also demanded increased border fencing, deployment of drones, scanners and improvement of border check posts for better vigil.
Another demand that he raised is a logical population-based reservation policy in the Northeast where tribals are already in a vast majority. He demanded equitable employment opportunities in the central government institutions in the Northeast.
He supported the demand for raising the status of NERGRIHMS to “Institute of National Institute.”