It is the central government that must decide on the issue of whether to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to Meghalaya, as the state Assembly has already passed a resolution in favour of it, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today.
Pressure groups in favour of ILP have recently raked the issue up again, questioning the delay in its implementation and the seriousness on the part of the state government in pursuing the matter with New Delhi.
Today, the Hynñiewtrep A’chik National Movement (HANM) held a surprise protest in front of the Secretariat on this issue and in support of the agitating ad hoc teachers.
The CM meekly stated that the Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution in favour of the ILP in late 2019 and also passed a resolution for the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Stating that the ball is in the Centre’s court, Sangma said that both issues require a lot of push and lobbying and are beyond the jurisdiction of the state government.
Meanwhile, to promote the indigenous languages of Meghalaya, the CM said that MLAs should be allowed to speak and debate in the Khasi and Garo languages in the house.
Sangma said this has been discussed with the Speaker and that they are of the opinion that, in terms of motions, resolutions, debates on Governor’s speech and budget, and with simultaneous translation, both the Khasi and Garo languages should be allowed to be spoken.
