SHILLONG: The Congress staged a protest in the city on Saturday against the idea of issuing work permits to Bangladeshi nationals.
Speaking to media persons, Congress Legislative Party spokesperson Zenith Sangma said, “How can the government even think of this idea which is dangerous for the state.”
Making it clear that the idea of issuing permits to Bangladeshis “is not acceptable to the party”, Zenith said the issue was mooted even as the state is plagued by illegal immigration for many years.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had discussed the idea with Union Minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting in Delhi.
He later clarified that it was an inchoate idea and no proposal was forwarded n this regard.
Senior leaders, MLAs and party workers on Saturday demonstrated at Congress Bhawan with placards and banners.
Zenith questioned the necessity to bring in people from foreign countries at a time when local youths are jobless and wondered whether the chief minister was working on this idea “due to lack of knowledge or he has some mala fide intentions”.
The Congress leader was of the view that the government should create job avenues in the state because youths from the region are not safe in other parts of the country.
He said the incumbent government should carry the initiatives of its predecessor — like implementing Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act and initiating entry and exit gates — forward for the betterment of the people.He expressed concern that the move, if taken, would lead to inter-caste marriages and other social problems. Similar protest programmes were also held in Mendipathar (North Garo Hills), West and South West Garo Hills.
