HYC stages protest against move to connect EJH with railway connectivity, delay to implement ILP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 14, 2023

Activists of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Friday staged a protest in front of the Secretariat against the government’s move to bring railway line to East Jaintia Hills in absence of effective anti-influx laws like the inner line permit (ILP). 

“No ILP, no railway, period!” – read one of the placards displayed during the protest. 

Vehicular movement was also affected as protesters sat on the road in front of the secretariat. The demonstration was later called off after the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong invited the leaders for discussion  on the issues.

After the meeting, HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem said, “We have made or pooint very clear that no ILP means no railways. No railways will be permitted to enter Khasi and Jaintia Hills without having laws to protect the indigenous people from influx of outsiders.” 

“Regarding this, he (Tynsong) had categorically stated that the government has no intention to bring railways within Khasi and Jaintia Hills as of now and that there is no discussion in the state Cabinet regarding this matter. He has assured us that up till now there is no such commitment or there was no such decision made by the state government to bring railway either in Khliehriat or Byrnihat,” he said while adding that “With regards to the pending issues relating to the ILP, Khasi language and MRSSA (Amendment) Bill, 2020 the deputy CM has told us that they are still pursuing the matter. The state government under the leadership of chief minister will also take a full delegation of the Meghalaya Cabinet to Delhi to meet the prime minister, home minister and other ministers to follow up on these pending issues. This cabinet will take these issues seriously with the union government.”

Asked, Synrem said that the deputy chief minister informed that he was not aware of the statement made by the chief minister on conducting a feasibility study to bring railway to Khliehriat and maintained that there is no such plan for even conducting any feasibility study to bring railways to Khasi and Jaintia Hills regions. 

Also raising concern over the Centre’s delay to implement ILP in Meghalaya despite a resolution being passed since 2019, the HYC leader said, “The deputy CM told us as of now this discussion for implementation of ILP is still inconclusive, the home ministry has not stated either yes or no but says it is still under discussion. However, we impressed that this state government should take up the issue seriously and we have shown him problems that we will face if this unabated influx is not checked.”

He said that the HYC has decided to wait for the delegation of the state Cabinet to meet the Centre after which the next course of action will be decided.

Synrem also maintained that the HYC will welcome the railway line and other developmen if ILP is implemented in Meghalaya.

“If ILP is implemented, the provisions are there to check people who enter the state, we are not against development as we understand as a state we will need railway connectivity and other development but then first protection of the community of the tribal of the state is of utmost importance for us.”

He also said that there has been attempts to mislead that if ILP is implemented, Meghalaya will lose its Sixth Schedule status.  

“I don’t know why ILP is being compared with the Sixth Schedule as Sixth Schedule has its own different functions, the ADCs their powers is how to protect our culture and customs and ILP is to regulate the people coming from outside,” he added. 

On the MRSSA, Synrem said that the HYC is very clear on its stand that it does not accept the MRSSA, 2016 as it does not have enough teeth to check unabated influx into the state.

“Therefore, we are demanding immediately implementation of the MRSS(Amendment) Bill, 2020 which has all provisions of the ILP. We were assured that the state government will also go to the MHA with two demands which is for the Centre to either give Meghalaya ILP or MRSS (Amendment) Bill, 2020,” he said.

He further informed that the deputy chief minister also cited that the issues raised by the Centre is Meghalaya being a transit state and that tourism will be affected if ILP is implemented. 

Synrem however said that the HYC sees no problem with people who are using the state as a transit route as they only require to register at the entry or exit points.

“When it comes to the tourists, people say if implement ILP it will affect tourisms but the rules should be made in such a way that the tourists, students or people who visited the state for 2-3 days they should not be affected. Rules should be made in such a way that people who visited the state as tourists are not affected,” he added.