By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 3: The Meghalaya government hopes to utilise Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Shillong for the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) to draw the Centre’s attention once again to two of the state’s most persistent demands.
The demands are the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said that while the NEC plenary is meant to deliberate on issues concerning the development of the northeastern region, the state government would not miss any opportunity to engage with Shah on matters that remain pending despite repeated resolutions and representations.
Tynsong pointed out that the Meghalaya Assembly has already passed resolutions seeking the implementation of the ILP and the constitutional recognition of Khasi and Garo languages. He said the government remains committed to pursuing both demands and would place them before Shah if an opportunity for discussion arises during his visit.
Apart from the ILP and language recognition, Tynsong said that broader security concerns affecting the region could also come up during discussions. Referring to the unfenced stretches along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, he said he was not aware whether the matter had been formally included on the agenda, while noting that such issues naturally fall within the wider framework of discussions on security and development in the Northeast.
The Deputy Chief Minister also responded to questions regarding the long-pending railway expansion project in Meghalaya, which has remained politically sensitive due to concerns expressed by several organisations and sections of society over unchecked influx.
Rejecting suggestions that the state government opposed railway connectivity, Tynsong said the government’s position has been consistent from the beginning. He maintained that Meghalaya has never sought to halt railway projects but has repeatedly emphasised the need to take all stakeholders into confidence before moving ahead.
According to him, the primary concern of stakeholders and citizens remains the demand for ILP, which is viewed as a mechanism to regulate entry into the state and safeguard indigenous interests. He said public sentiment has remained clear that the ILP issue needs to be resolved before discussing railway expansion.
Tynsong said the government’s approach has been to balance developmental aspirations with the concerns of local communities. He reiterated that infrastructure projects cannot be viewed in isolation from the larger issues of identity, protection of indigenous rights, and public confidence.
Shillong is hosting a series of high-profile visits, with chief ministers and governors from across the Northeast converging on the city for the NEC plenary. The gathering is expected to focus on regional cooperation, connectivity, security, and development priorities for the northeastern states.
