The goal of seeing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) implemented in Meghalaya has become a distant dream as the attention of the government appears to have moved towards the Residents Act, ex-MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said today.
Basaiawmoit was speaking at a function of his latest so-called revolution here.
“Today we see that the content of the discussion between the state government and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has shifted to the MRSSA (Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act). This is just a tactic to silence the demand for ILP by deceiving the citizens of the state,” Basaïawmoit said during the pledge taking ceremony of Ïada La Ka Ri.
The former legislator also said that the ILP is the only mechanism to protect the indigenous people of the state from influx.
On the issue of corruption, Basaïawmoit said that social media has expanded the way the people get to hear of corrupt practices, with names of those allegedly involved shared online.
“The State government has always been in denial (on illegal mining) but today everything has been circulated on social media,” he said.
He also stated that Meghalayans have not voiced their opposition enough when it comes to the issue of corruption, especially illegal coal mining.