Opposition resolution on ILP voted out in Meghalaya

The Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance today voted out a popular demand to implement the Inner Line Permit in the state in favour of a mechanism to check illegal immigration.
The state government would soon take up a proposal for amendment to the Representation of People's Act with the Centre to ensure that outsiders did not get voting rights, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said while replying to a resolution tabled by opposition Hills State Peoples Democratic Party member Ardent Basaiawmoit.
He said that the proposed Regulation of Landlords and Verification of Tenancy Bill, 2013 which was drafted would regulate the stay of outsiders, especially the floating population in the state, with its implementation.

Earlier, moving the resolution, Basaiawmoit said that political parties should stop looking at migrants as vote banks and unite to implement ILP which was the most suitable way to check influx and illegal immigration.
Criticising the proposed Tenancy Bill, he said the Bill was the tenancy law which defined the role and relationship between a landlord and a tenant.
He said the implementation of the ILP could be tried out in the Khasi Jaintia Hills region first which was still under the purview of the Eastern Bengal Regulation Act 1873.

Opposition United Democratic Party leader Paul Lyngdoh said the government should establish control over sectors such as mining where outsiders took advantage to stake claims of citizenship.

He said the implementation of the ILP, a legislation adopted by the British in 1873 for the indigenous tribals, would go a long way in removing the fears of the people.
Leader of the Opposition, Donkupar Roy and several other opposition members also argued in support of the resolution, which was defeated by voice vote.
Earlier, Garo National Council legislator Clifford Marak withdrew a resolution seeking creation of a separate state for the Garos after the chief minister highlighted measures to ensure equitable development of all sections of the people.