CoMSO all set to mobilize ‘people’s movement’ against delay to implement ILP in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 21, 2020

SHILLONG: The pro-ILP groups have decided to intensify their agitation and are all set to mobilise for a ‘people’s movement’ to ensure the Centre succumbed to the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to check influx and illegal immigration in the state.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) held in Shillong here on Friday, a day after MDA delegation led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma met Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

Shah had assured the state delegation that the Centre is examining the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on December 19, 2019 for implementation of the ILP in the state.

Not happy with the outcome of the Delhi meeting, the CoMSO also announced the second phase of its direct action to implement the ILP by conducting joint checking with district task forces (DTFs) against illegal labourers working in different construction sites across the state.

“We have decided to further intensify our agitation till the demand for ILP is achieved,” CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters here.

He said the CoMSO is very disappointed with the Centre towards this long pending demand of the people of the state.

“We were expecting for a positive response from the union home minister, who instead assured only to examine the resolution. It seems that the Centre is not keen to consider the ILP demand,” Kharjahrin said.

“We also failed to understand the statement by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma that the delegation was happy about the outcome of the meeting (with Shah) when in fact nothing positive came out of it,” he added.

According to him, there is no need to examine the resolution but the Centre should have considered the same without any further delay.

Elaborating on the proposed mode of agitation, Kharjahrin, also president of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) said the CoMSO will hold consultative meetings with all stakeholders including traditional institutions for mobilizing a massive movement against the Centre’s dilly-dally attitude.

“We will be consulting scholars, academicians, authors, former politicians, retired government officials, traditional heads, women and youth organizations for taking their suggestions as to how to go about bringing such a movement which will specifically focus on achieving ILP demand,” he said.

“The movement will be of the people, by the people and for the people to mount pressure on the Centre to consider implementing the ILP in Meghalaya,” he further added.

The chairman also announced that the second phase of the direct action agitation to implement the ILP will begin from next week.

“We will conduct joint checkings with the DTFs and enforcement wings of the district councils against illegal foreigners working as labourers in the Khasi Jaintia and Garo Hills region of the state,” he said. The surprise checking will be conducted at factories, industries and construction sites.

Earlier, the CoMSO had deployed its volunteers to assist the Directorate of Anti-Infiltration in checking illegal immigrants who enter the state without valid documents.