The BJP government at the Centre is carefully studying the demand for the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya but the party is concerned that tourism and allied industries will be badly hit if the ILP is implemented.
BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha today stated that the saffron party is actively considering the issue but more clarity on the subject will only be available when it is ready with its manifesto for the next state election.
“Meghalaya is a state that is heavily dependent on tourists. There are implications of Inner Line Permit on tourism and tourism directly impacts job creation and earning of people of Meghalaya also,” Sinha said today. “We understand that the culture of Meghalaya has to be protected, the people and their way of life have to be protected but, at the same time, we also need to balance that with the development aspirations of the state,” he maintained.
When asked about the party’s stand on various corruption allegations against the NPP-led government of which it is a part, he said that the BJP stands for corruption-free governance and believes that corruption in government is like stealing from the poor.
“In Meghalaya we are a part of the government as part of the MDA alliance but it is our job as a responsible political party to raise a red flag, raise our voice, when we see something not happening correctly. Our MLAs, spokespersons and our state president have always ensured that, if there is an area of concern of the people, they raise their voice and ensure that the people’s voices are being heard,” he said.
Further praising the BJP for focusing more on the North East, he added, “The financial resources committed for infrastructure in the North East have more than doubled in the last eight years. Whether it is highways, rail connectivity, airports … free homes, free gas, electricity connection, water connection.”