Shillong, Jan 17: The state government’s plan to explore the inclusion of an Inner Line Permit (ILP)-like provision under the proposed new Immigration and Foreigners Act, has been vehemently opposed by political parties and pressure groups.
Shillong Lok Sabha MP, Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon stated that as the Voice of the People Party has always stood firm to demand the ILP, it still has that demand.
The MP also urged the state government to unite with one intention to get the ILP.
Syngkon stated as the state had passed a resolution in the Assembly to urge the centre to implement ILP in Meghalaya, he said that government should stick to its original demand.
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Tura, Saleng A Sangma stated that Meghalaya does not need an “ILP-like” system.
“When you talk about ILP like system, you cannot fool the people of Meghalaya,” the Tura MP said.
He said that the government of Meghalaya should think of a mechanism to tackle illegal immigrants coming to the state.
On the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), Sangma said that the state government has not done anything to either strengthen it nor implement.
On the situation in Bangladesh and statements coming from that country that northeast should be snatched away from India, Sangma said that he was worried about such rants.
“I am worried about Meghalaya when outsiders are encouraged to enter the state and do all kind of jobs. We don’t have a proper mechanism to identify an individual and from where are they coming,” the Tura MP said.
He said that whenever any illegal immigrant is apprehended from other parts of the country they claim that they enter through Meghalaya and other parts of the northeast.
Stating that he is worried about the future of the younger generation about the current rate of influx.
He pointed out that while Assam is conducting an eviction drive to remove illegal immigrants, but Meghalaya as a state is doing nothing.
“We are still allowing our own people to be killed by the gangs, which is sad,” Sangma stated.
The Tura questioned why such illegal people are allowed to do business in the state, in obvious reference to the illegal stone quarrying in West Garo Hills district, where an ACHIK member, Dilseng Sangma was killed on January 9.
Moreover, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), said that they are adamant that there should be implementation of ILP in the state.
On the ILP-like provision under the proposed new Immigration and Foreigners Act, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said that, such laws is not ILP.
“We are demanding ILP a system which will regulate the entry of people (into Meghalaya). But the Immigration and Foreigners Act speaks about foreigners who are not Indians. But when we are demanding ILP, we are doing so to regulate even Indian citizens from entering our state,” Synrem said.
He said that Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland has ILP and it does not regulate only Bangladeshis or other foreigners but also for Indians entering these states.
The HYC president that if one speaks of the ILP like provisions, to be included under the proposed new Immigration and Foreigners Act, he asked this act is meant for whom.
“But if it is meant only for people from outside India then what about our demands to have stringent laws to regulate entry of even Indian citizens. Will the state government accept it,” Synrem said.
