Centre’s delay to implement ILP is political injustice: KSU

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 20, 2021

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has vowed to intensify its democratic movement against the “political injustice” of the Centre by delaying to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

The Union also accused the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government for showing lack of seriousness to pursue the demand with the Centre.  

After taking pledge as two-time president of the KSU, Lambokstarwell Marngar has slammed the Centre for its alleged failure to honour the ILP resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in December, 2019.

“We take this as a political injustice done by the Centre to Meghalaya because if it can respect a similar resolution by immediately giving ILP to Manipur state, then why not for our state,” Marngar told reporters.

“Therefore, the KSU along with other NGOs have decided to intensify our democratic movement to demand a law that will protect the interest and welfare of our indigenous community,” he said.

Coming down heavily on those who are criticizing the demand for ILP, Marngar said, “By demanding implementation of such a law, it does not mean that we are anti-Indians and anti-national. There such attempt to mislead the people has to stop.”

Asked, the KSU chief said that the delaying tactics adopted by the Centre also reflect the failure of the state government to follow up the issue aggressively.

“I feel the assurance made by the union home minister Amit Shah (that he would be visiting the state this month) was just to fool the people of the state. This also reflects that the government and all 60 MLAs are not aggressively following up the issue,” he said.

According to him, the state government seems to shy away from the issue by blaming it on the Centre.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had conveyed that the union home minister would be visiting the state this month for taking views and opinions of the stakeholders on the demand for ILP.

The pledge was administered by former KSU president Michael Syiem to the leaders of the newly elected Central Executive Committee (CEC) at a grand function held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium.

The new body was elected in February, last year. Earlier, one of the ex-presidents, Danny Khyriem has suggested the need to revisit the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement if the Centre is adamant to implement ILP in the state.

“If we do not get ILP, let the Centre declare that we are not part of India,” Khyriem, also chairman of the election committee, said.

When asked, Marngar however said it is too early to take a call on the suggestion. “As of now, we want the Government of India to respect and honour the resolution by bringing Meghalaya under the ILP regime. However, if the situation demands and if it is warrant for the indigenous community to revisit the agreements, time will tell,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the KSU also felicitated 47 members who were arrested in different cases.

Also present on the occasion were ministers – Hamletson Dohling and Banteidor Lyngdoh, MLAs – Ampareen Lyngdoh, Sanbor Shullai, Adelbert Nongrum, MDCs and others.