CoMSO announces direct action to implement ILP in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 8, 2020

SHILLONG: Irked at the Centre’s indifferent attitude, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) has decided to take direct action to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to check influx and illegal immigration into the state from February 12.

This decision was made by the CoMSO, a conglomeration of 17 NGOs from Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills region, after its four-day sit-in-demonstration to oppose against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 and to demand implementation of the ILP came to an end here on Saturday.

The Centre has been alleged of adopting delaying tactics on the ILP resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on December 19, last year.

“If you (Centre) are not willing to give us, we will implement ILP on our own,” chairman of the confederation Robertjune Kharjahrin said while announcing the “No ILP, No Rest” and “No ILP, Direct Action” protest at a meeting held at the State Central Library’s premises.

To mark the beginning of the direct action from February 12, he said the CoMSO will deploy its volunteers in all the infiltration check gates to assist the Directorate of Infiltration of the state government in detecting and pushing back outsiders who are without any valid documents.

“We will also put up our own check gates in areas where government check gates are absent,” he said.

Kharjahrin, also president of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), announced taking up eviction drives against illegal labourers working in the different parts of the state.

“If the Autonomous District Councils and Labour department fail in their duty, we will evict all labourers with no documents,” he said.

“We also appeal to all the traditional institutions not to allow outsiders to illegally settle in their respective jurisdictions and to the contractors not to engage Bangladeshi workers,” he added.

The CoMSO chairman further said enough is enough, the Centre can no longer take the people of the state for granted this time as in the past it has rejected at least four anti-influx legislations passed and adopted by the Meghalaya government.

“If the Centre still refuses to respect the resolution adopted by the state government, we will be compelled to take other drastic steps till the ILP demand is achieved,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CoMSO has also submitted a letter to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma demanding the state government to aggressively pursue the demand for ILP with the Centre.

“The state Government along with all the MLAs of the State should take aggressive steps to appeal to the Central Government to approve the resolution for the implementation of ILP in the State of Meghalaya,” it said.

It also accused the Centre for violating the doctrine of the federal structure of the Constitution  by failing to approve implementation of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 in Meghalaya even though the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the ILP resolution, last year.

Earlier in the meeting, Kharjahrin also maintained that the 60 MLAs should take full responsibility if there is law and order breakdown in the state due to delay in implementing the ILP.

The CoMSO further alleged the Governor of violating the Constitution of India by refusing to concur with the advise of the Council of Ministers since he is yet to give his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.

“The state government should create necessary pressure so that the Governor of Meghalaya immediately gives his assent to the MRSSA (amendment) Ordinance, 2019,” it demanded.

The CoMSO also conveyed its decision to the CM to send its volunteers to jointly implement the mandate of the Directorate of Infiltration during the interim period till the Centre approves the ILP resolution and till the Governor give his assent to the ordinance to amend the MRSSA.

It further pointed out that the Directorate of infiltration does  not have enough police personnel to effectively implement its mandate, the District Task Forces are too engaged with other duties in the Districts and most of the Labour Inspectors recruited for the purpose of controlling influx and illegal  migration are not willing to check work permits.

This may lead to compromise of peace and security in the state, affect the already fragile demographic imbalance of the state and also adversely impact employment opportunities of the local people.

“We will also fix a routine and inform the District Task Force for a joint checking of illegal immigrants in the state and we will also assist the Labour Inspectors for checking of Work permits,” it said.

The CoMSO also suggested the need to strengthen the Directorate of Infiltration by creating its own Battalion and that separate cell of the infiltration branch must be created in each and every police station of the state.