A REPORTER
SHILLONG: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma must lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to put pressure on the Centre to immediately implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya.
The demand was made by a delegation under the banner of CoMSO during a meeting held with Chief Minister Sangma in his office on Thursday.
"We impressed upon the Chief Minister that leading an all party delegation would show that the State is united on the ILP issue," said CoMSO chairman RobertjuneKharjahrin after the meeting.
He added that all the 60 legislators of the State must ensure that the historic resolution on ILP passed by the State Assembly last year, is approved in order to fulfill the long-pending aspiration of the people of the State.
Asking all political parties to refrain from politicizing the ILP issue, Kharjahrin — who is also HYC chief — posed, "When all of them have supported the resolution, how can they leave the issue to be taken up only by the State government?"
He added, "Therefore, we strongly demand an all-party delegation with representatives from all political parties to aggressively pursue the matter with the Centre."
When asked, the CoMSO leader said that the Chief Minister has assured the delegation that he would give a thought on the proposal to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi.
"He (Sangma) also informed that he would again go to Delhi on the ILP resolution since the Centre is still undecided on the issue," he added.
Stating that the ILP is a public movement, Kharjahrin said if the Centre can give ILP to other Sixth Schedule States in the North East, Meghalaya too has the right to get a similar protection.
"The argument that Meghalaya is a transit State does not arise as we also have equal right to protect ourselves from the unabated influx, which threatens our identity," he pointed out.
Kharjahrin further informed that the delegation has maintained its stiff opposition against any attempt to give citizenship to illegal immigrants under the 'Citizenship Amendment Act'(CAA).
He said, "Though the Centre is yet to frame the rules for implementation of CAA yet the people are being allowed to apply for citizenship."
Earlier, the delegation also sought the intervention of the lone RajyaSabha MP from the State, Dr W.R. Kharlukhi for taking up the ILP resolution with the Prime Minister NarendraModi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Kharjahrin said that the MP has assured the delegation that he would raised all important issues concerning Meghalaya in the NDA meeting which will be held very soon.