Shillong, Feb 22: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has termed the passage of the resolution for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in December 2019 by the Meghalaya Assembly as a false promise.
Thomas Passah stated today that the recent debate on ILP on the floor of the Assembly indicated that the government is reconsidering its stance, saying it is exploring other options to check influx. He said the Chief Minister’s statement makes it clear that the government is looking at the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA) 2025 as an alternative.
Passah explained that ILP was introduced by colonial rulers to protect tribal areas from the inflow of citizens from mainland India, thereby preventing the extinction of minority tribes. While the IFA applies to foreigners, ILP applies to Indian citizens.
Passah pointed out that the central government notified Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur as protected areas under the 2025 IFA. Passah alleged that the Chief Minister seems to be misleading the house by suggesting that Meghalaya be included under the protected area and that the government is avoiding implementing ILP.
According to Passah, the central government declared these five North East states as protected areas under IFA because they already have ILP, implying that Meghalaya should insist on implementing ILP to be considered for protected area status.
He accused the state government of making false promises and taking the people for a ride on the ILP issue. He also highlighted that the central government removed references to Khasi and Jaintia from the preamble of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) 1873 – which authorises ILP – in 2019 and the state government has not addressed this.
