ILP stir enters 4th phase in Meghalaya
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Shillong, September 22 2013:
Civil society organisations pressing for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya are all set to enter their fourth phase of agitation from Monday.
The fourth phase of agitation will include a five-day night road-blockade and two days office picketing in Meghalaya from September 23, to pressurize the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) at the earliest.
The Mukul Sangma government wanted other mechanisms instead of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to control the influx issue in Meghalaya but the civil society organisations rejected the state government's proposal.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 the state.
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, sources said the decision on the mode of agitation regarding the fourth phase was taken at a meeting of the ten NGOs held at an undisclosed location on Saturday.
The 8 pm to 5 am night road blockade which will be effective in the 11 districts of the state will commence from September 23 to September 27 .
The sources said, the road blockade will also be followed by a two days office picketing from September 26-27 .
"We have decided to go ahead with our next course of action in protest against the adamant attitude of the state government towards the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Influx (HCLI) to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP)," one of the NGO leaders stated.
Stating that there is no turning back, the NGOs' spokesperson further said, "We would continue to intensify our agitations until our demand for ILP is achieved," adding, "Our stand remain that only the ILP is the best mechanism to tackle illegal influx" .
The ten NGOs in the meeting have also made it clear that they are least bother about the proposed so called legal action threatening by the state government.
During the past three weeks of agitations, only in East Khasi Hills district there are as many as 45 � 50 cases related to arsons, stone pelting, burning of vehicles, torching of offices and assaults registered by district administration.
Meanwhile, the NGOs have further expressed their appreciation to the people of the state for their support and cooperation on the issue even as they urged all citizens to extend the same in the coming days.