CSOs step up ILP stir in Meghalaya
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Shillong, October 06 2013: The civil society organisations in Meghalaya are all set to enter their sixth phase of agitation from tomorrow demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state by resorting to three days night road blockade in all the districts of Meghalaya.

Office picketing and night road-blockade are the two modes of agitation resorted by the civil organisations since the first week of September but the Mukul Sangma government is unmoved.

Rather, the state government had offered the 'Regulation of Landlord & Tenancy Verification Bill 2013' as a legislative measure to address and enforce regulations to contain influx and illegal immigration, instead of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

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, due to the persistence of 'deadlock' between the Mukul Sangma government, the people and the state continue to suffer the brunt.

Both sides are displaying adamant attitude.

Intensifying their stir, the ten pro ILP pressure groups have announced their fresh agitation by calling for a three-day 'night road-blockade' from Monday, as a move to pressurize the state government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to thwart the inflow illegal influx into the state.

The night road blockade will start from 7am to 5pm from October 7 to October 9 .

"We have unanimously decided to continue with our agitations till our demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is achieved," Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) general secretary Sadon K Blah informed in a statement issued here .

With the fresh announcement here, the agitations of the NGOs is said to enter the second week of October where Puja celebrations is going to commence.

Though few concern organizations have expressed the need to exempt agitations during festivity period, the NGOs failed to give any response on this matter.

"We are not happy and satisfied with the knee jerk reaction of the government in hurriedly notifying the Bill for the state because this Bill does not meet our demands as far as regulating the entry of migrants into our state is concern," Sadon K Blah expressed.

Blah then pointed out that the casual factor for the genesis of the ILP movement in the state is the overflowing of the migrants' population in the state as per the Census report of 2001-2011 where it has indicated that the non-indigenous population exceeded the tribal population in many urban and sub-urban areas of the state.

Stating that the chief minister has shied away from addressing the issue of influx, Blah said, "This is the reason that promted the NGOs to demand for the implementation of the ILP as we know that this is the existing provision in the state of Meghalaya," adding "The repealing Act of 1879 in Garo hills does not exist in paper, it is Mukul's hearsay intended to mislead the people" .

He further remarked that the style of functioning of the CM is like a moon among the lesser stars because all the MLAs are the 'yes' men and women of Sangma.

On the modification of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) and setting up of a special court, the HNYF general secretary however termed the move as a threat to subdue the democratic process of protests by the NGOs.

"His (Mukul) proposal to introduce the special court by way of modification of the MMPO is only the threat tactics to subdue the democratic process of protests and to wipe out the NGOs in the state for eternity," he said adding "However, we as NGOs are firm in our resolution and will not be deterred by any threat and intimidations" .

"Mukul must understand that the ILP issue concerning influx and this issue needs a political solution not a judicial decisions by arresting the leaders and volunteers of the NGOs and frame them in his special courts," he stated.

Earlier, many concern citizens, organizations and even politicians have advice the need to negotiate talks with the NGOs to end this ongoing impasse that is leading the State nowhere.

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