The only two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the state – AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai – met with Governor Satya Pal Malik today to urge him to take up the issue of the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
The duo told Malik that the state unit of the BJP is in favour of the ILP.
The party also petitioned the Governor to take up the issue of peace talks with the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) with the central government, despite the rebel group refusing to shun violence. Hek said that members of the state unit will meet with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister in New Delhi in this regard.
The other issue raised by the BJP was the tumultuous state of affairs in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), where the interim Vice-Chancellor, Prof SK Srivastava, is facing strong resistance from students and teachers.
“We, the state BJP, urged the Governor, if possible, to appoint our own people who are qualified (as new Vice-Chancellor),” he said, preferably a woman as Meghalaya is a matrilineal state.
Meanwhile, Shullai said that they also took up the issue of jailed Jesuit priest Stan Swami, in whose cause the Shillong South MLA has already written to the PM.