ILP seekers threaten to intensify stir in Meghalaya

Thirteen pressure groups Saturday threatened to intensify the agitation across Meghalaya if the government failed to re-introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to tackle the Bangladeshi immigrants' issue.

"We will intensify our agitation across the state till the government re-introduces ILP to regulate the entry of outsiders into our state," Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) leader Sadon K. Blah announced at a public rally.

Blah later told IANS the pressure groups would announce their next phase of agitational programmes at an appropriate time.

Thousands turned up at the rally organised by the pressure groups to mount pressure on the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government to re-introduce ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

An effigy of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was set on fire as a mark of protest against his decision to implement the Meghalaya Landlords and Tenancy Regulations Bill, 2013 rather than re-introduce the ILP.

Over 20,000 tribesmen from across Meghalaya's Khasi-Jaintia Hills and some members of the opposition attended the rally.

Normal life came to a standstill as most shops in the main market remained closed while private local cabs and buses were off the road in support of the rally.

"The adamant attitude of this government not to implement the ILP in the state was mainly because they (members of the ruling government) are concerned of their vote bank politics," Blah said even as he appealed to Sangma to implement it in the interest of the indigenous people.

Echoing the HNYF leader, Daniel Khyriem, president of the powerful Khasi Students' Union, which has been demanding implementation of ILP for over three decades, promised the pressure groups will continue to fight the government till the demand is met.

"There is no other law better than ILP to prevent influx and illegal immigrants, and that's why the indigenous people in our neighbouring state of Assam are also now demanding the implementation of ILP to protect themselves," Khyriem said.

Meghalaya, particularly the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, witnessed several cases of arson since Sep 2 after talks between Sangma and the pro-ILP pressure groups hit a dead end.

ILP is an official travel document issued by the Indian government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period.

It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland to obtain permit for entering the restricted areas.