There is mixed response on ILP demand: BJP minister AL Hek

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 21, 2020

SHILLONG: BJP leader and cabinet minister Alexander L Hek on Friday said the state party will wait for the Centre to take a decision on the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

Hek, who is in-charge of health, home (jail & passport) and arts & culture, however said there has been a ‘mixed response’ from the people of the state on the demand for ILP as he asserted that empowering the traditional institutions will be the best solution for tackling the issue of influx.

His statement also came a day after Union home minister Amit Shah had assured the delegation of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma that the Centre is examining the resolution for implementation of the ILP in the state.

Asked on the stand of the BJP in Meghalaya if the Centre rejects the ILP demand, Hek said, “We will wait but it is too early to comment. However, decision taken or not, reason has to be there. It cannot be that they just yes or no without any justification.”

The minister said he cannot say whether the Centre is keen or not to give ILP to Meghalaya but all legislators have taken a resolution on the matter and “I stand by it”.

Whether the party will pursue the issue with the central leadership, Hek said, “If requires we will follow it up but we have to follow our leader and CM is our leader.” According to him, the BJP along with other MDA partners have taken up the issue with NDA-led government at the Centre.

The BJP leader however expressed his disagreement that the people of the state are becoming restless due to the delay by the Centre to implement the ILP in the state by saying that the issue had evoked mixed response.

“I don’t see that the people of the state are restless. I saw there is a mixed response from the people of the state,” he said. “I saw only few thousands of people out of 33-35 lakh population (who are in favour of the demand), so how can you majority (wants ILP),” the minister further said.

Hek however said that a survey is needed to know as to what extend the ILP system would really help to protect the state adding that the opinion of all stakeholders is required.

When asked what he thinks will be the best solution to tackle issue of influx and illegal immigration if not ILP, the minister said the traditional institutions which have been established since time immemorial should be further empowered.

“If they (traditional institutions) are empowered, they will be the best solution to tackle the issue of influx in our state,” he said. He said the orginal Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 is giving more teeth to the dorbar shnong and its amendment will also give further teeth to dorbar shnong.

According to him, it is only after experiencing then we can say whether MRSSA or ILP is better.