CoHSO flays parties over Inner Line Permit

Agitation to be launched next week

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: The Confederation of Hynniewtrep Social Organisation (CoHSO) has exposed the flip-flop stance taken by political parties of the State on the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue, said chairman of CoHSO, Robertjune Kharjahrin here on Monday.

According to Kharjahrin, the regional parties of the State like the Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) in their manifestos said that they will implement ILP if they are in power.

“These regional parties have been harping on the ILP in their manifestos but are now keeping mum,” Kharjahrin said.

It may be pointed out that the cry for implementation of ILP in Meghalaya has become shriller after the BJP-led NDA government strongly endorsing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

Kharjahrin pointed out the Manipur People’s Protection Bill 2018, a long-pending demand, especially of the dominant Meiti community of the valley, was passed in the Manipur State Assembly by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government on July 23.

He also said that the Congress is in favour of the bill in Manipur and in 2015 a bill was passed by the party when it was in power.

In August 2015, following protests by the Joint Action Committee, the Manipur Assembly passed the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, all of which defined the ‘Manipuri people’.

He said, however, the BJP, NPP and the Congress in Meghalaya are singing a different tune.

“The parties are the same but their actions are different,” the CoHSO chairman said.

Meanwhile, the CoHSO leaders said they will continue to agitate until their demands for implementation of ILP in the State is fulfilled.

“We will not stop until the government heeds our demands,” Kharjahrin said.

Moreover, the leaders of CoHSO will write to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and political parties of the State demanding implementation of ILP in Meghalaya.

Moreover, the CoHSO leaders also said they will organize a surprise agitation next week if the ILP is not implemented in Meghalaya.

Also Read: Meghalaya News