Shillong, Jul 31:The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government’s repeated claim that it is pushing the central government for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state is the “biggest lie ever told to the people of Meghalaya,” Leader of the Opposition and TMC Parliamentary Party chief, Dr Mukul Sangma, said today.
He also accused the state government of intentionally delaying the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2016, which had been passed when he was Chief Minister. Dr Sangma alleged the delay was meant to make it easier for people from outside the state to come in and take over land.
According to him, the government never had any serious intention to get ILP and only misled the public. Sangma said MRSSA, if properly implemented, has all the legal tools needed to control unchecked entry and settlement of outsiders. “This law can protect our land and identity, but the government doesn’t want to use it,” he said.
He recalled that during his time as CM, the law was carefully drafted to stay within the Constitution. But when the current government tried to change it without proper planning, they went beyond their legal powers. “I warned them, but they didn’t listen. Now the law is stuck, and nothing is being done,” he said.
He added that the entry and exit rules under the MRSSA had already been cleared by courts and could be enforced. However, the government’s lack of seriousness and poor handling led to the failure of setting up facilitation centres. “They didn’t frame proper guidelines or fight the case in court. They messed it up,” he said.
Sangma also accused the government of purposely avoiding the law’s implementation so that people from outside can easily come and buy land in the State. “They don’t want to protect us. That’s why they’re not acting,” he claimed.
He made it clear that MRSSA was not just a symbolic move. “We worked hard on this law. It wasn’t done for show,” he said.
On the question of whether MRSSA addresses the issue of influx, he said even if the word “influx” isn’t directly used, the law is designed to control movement and settlement to protect the State’s population. “The Constitution has limits. We followed them while making this law,” he said.
He said the law also gave power to local village heads, like the Rangbah Shnong, to decide who could stay in their areas. “I live in Nongrum Hills. The Rangbah Shnong has the authority to say who can stay and who can’t,” he said.
He blamed the government for not making the facilitation centres work, saying the entire process was handled poorly and without proper commitment. “They didn’t know what they were doing. That’s why everything went wrong,” he said.
On ILP, Sangma reminded that only the central government has the power to grant it. During his tenure, the Assembly passed a resolution, but he never made false promises. “I didn’t give people false hope. I knew the limits of my role,” he said.
He slammed the current government for misleading people and the Assembly by claiming they could convince the Centre to grant ILP. “They created a false impression that everything was agreed upon. It was never true,” he said.
“They even told NGOs at the State Central Library that ILP was coming. That was the biggest lie,” Sangma said.
