Cabinet Minister, Hamletson Dohling on Saturday warned that if Union Home Minister, Amit Shah refuses to meet stakeholders on his visit to the State he will enrage the citizens who are eager to discuss the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
“Before the Resolution to introduce Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State Assembly was passed, I met various stakeholders like the traditional heads, the elders, women groups and youth who encouraged me to speak up for ILP,” the Cabinet Minister and People’s Democratic Front legislator said.
It may be mentioned that on December 19, 2019, after the centre passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the Meghalaya Assembly passed a Resolution to urge the Central government to implement ILP in Meghalaya.
“Now he (Amit Shah) is visiting the State and I believe that if he comes he has to meet the stakeholders and if he doesn’t his visit is not needed,” Dohling said.
It may be mentioned that the Union Home Minister, had earlier visited Shillong on January 23, to chair the 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
However, various pressure groups of the State who wanted to meet, the Union Home Minister then, to discuss issues like implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), and other issues concerning the indigenous people of the State were not given enough time much to their disappointment.
Earlier, this year there were reports that Shah will undertake a two-day visit to Shillong in March to discuss revamping of the NEC (North East Council), but it never materialised.
Meanwhile, on the long pending border issue with Assam, Dohling echoed the State’s Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma stating that discussions were held with Himanta Biswa Sarma even before he became the Chief Minister.
“We, along with Banteidor Lyngdoh, president of the party, had held discussions with Himanta Biswa Sarma even before he became the Chief Minister of Assam,” Dohling said.
“Now he is the Chief Minister of Assam and I believe he will uphold his assurance to settle the border dispute,” he added.
