SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) will launch an agitation demanding implementation of inner line permit (ILP) in the state.
HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin told The Shillong Times that the organisation will announce the date of agitation on Monday.
HYC and other pressure groups have been demanding ILP as they feel the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act is ineffective in curbing influx.
Earlier, the Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisations, or CoHSO, had asked the government to incorporate four provisions of ILP in the amended Residents Act.
The provisions are – no Indian citizen or foreigner should enter and settle without permission, anyone from outside the state who enters and settles illegally without permission will be penalised, stay of any outsider in the state should not exceed 179 days and lastly addition of a provision related to prevention of sale of indigenous tribal land to outsiders.
Kharjahrin, who is the chairman of CoHSO, said besides the entry and exit points, there has to be another protection in the form of ILP.
There was fresh demand for ILP from pressure groups following the Centre’s move to implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
To a query, Lambokstar Marngar, the president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), said there were no discussions on resuming protest against the bill and the body was waiting for a go-ahead from the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO).
NESO is the umbrella body and KSU is part of it.
“For now there is nothing, we will decide on the next step,” Marngar said.
The pressure groups had vehemently opposed CAB before the Lok Sabha elections began.
Kharjahrin said the groups would oppose any bill similar to CAB. “Just because CAB is not implemented does not mean influx does not take place. Influx happens on a day-to-day basis,” he added.
The HYC leader observed that the Centre should regulate influx.
The BJP, in its election manifesto, has mentioned that the party will enact CAB if it comes to power. But it has ensured that it will protect the sentiments of the northeastern people.
