The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), a conglomeration of several pressure groups, staged sit-in demonstrations all over the state to press for the demand to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as well as secure approval for the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (Amendment) Bill 2020.
In Shillong the sit-in was held at Malki ground, while in Tura the demonstration took place in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Speaking to reporters, CoMSO General Secretary, Roy Kupar Synrem said that the people of Meghalaya have been waiting for almost a year since the official resolution was passed in the Assembly to urge the Centre to implement ILP in the state.
“But till date the Union Home Ministry is saying that it is still examining the matter. We are not happy with the attitude of the central government,” Synrem said.
Friday’s sit-in demonstration was the first phase of protests called by CoMSO. Synrem said that if this adamant attitude of the government still continues the confederation will intensify its agitation.
“We still have hopes that the Union Home Ministry will give its approval for ILP. But, nevertheless, the agitation will continue until and unless ILP is implemented in Meghalaya,” he added.
CoMSO Vice-Chairman, Nikman Ch Marak, said in Tura that it is due to the absence of instruments like ILP that outsiders are “barging in and settling freely in the state”, which poses a threat to the indigenous people.
