36 hours Meghalaya bandh
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Shillong, December 09 2013:
Intensifying with their demand to implement the Inner Line Permit to contain influx and illegal immigration in Meghalaya, the 13 pro-ILP groups announced a 36-hour 'shutdown' in the state excluding Garo Hills region from Tuesday.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the NGOs held here.
Khasi Students Union (KSU), FKJGP, HNYF, Garo Students Union (GSU), JSSU, CSWO, KWWADA, ADE and RBYF have been spearheading the demand for the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya.
These ongoing series of agitations have begun after the break-down of the August 29 meeting between the Mukul Sangma government and the NGOs in Shillong.
Meanwhile, the bandh which will start from 5 am of December 10 to 5 pm of December 11 will be effective only in the six districts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) general secretary Wellbirth Rani said in a statement issued here on Sunday.
He however informed while bandh will not be effective in Garo Hills, the pro ILP groups have decided to sponsor a 10-hour night road blockade in the five districts of the region starting from 8 pm to 5 am.
The shutdown and blockade will be followed by a statewide office picketing on December 13, Rani said.
"We have decided to intensify our stir to protest against the adamant of the Congress led state government to implement the Inner Line Permit system in the state," he said.
The NGOs further rejected the claims made by the Joint Secretary (North East) of Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Shambhu Singh who in a letter to the State government stated that Centre is not willing to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state of Meghalaya.
"Such statement is not at all acceptable and is only trying to mislead the indigenous populace of the state since the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873 is very much in existence till today," the FKJGP leader stated.