ILP is a Political Decision, Centre is Sensitive on the Issue: Kiren Rijiju

Shillong: The union minister was greeted with protest by pro-inner line permit groups against the Centre's delay to implement the ILP system in the state. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Kiren Rijiju on January 4 visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus for the inaugurating synthetic athletic track and football ground at SAI training centre in Meghalaya.

Activists of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) displayed placards during Rijiju's visit to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus on Monday.

The placards read – "Govt of India implement ILP in our state immediately", "Delaying of implementation of ILP in Meghalaya is just a political injustice," "We reject CAA, but we accept ILP" and "How long the Govt of India will complete studying about the resolution of ILP".

Reacting to this, Rijiju told media that the issue of inner line permit (ILP) is a political decision and that the central government is very sensitive to the need of the North East.

Meanwhile, KSU vice president Biangbor Paliar said that the union has decided to protest the visit by all central ministers to the state so long as the Centre fail to implement ILP in the state.

"Protest is part of democracy, demand can be made, how it can be solved, you will require discussion but I cannot comment on the subject directly because I am not dealing with this matter right now so it is difficult to go into the subject," Rijiju told reporters.

He also recalled, "When I was in the home ministry, we had done many things to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained in the North East."

Stating that ILP is a political decision, the minister however assured that the central government is very sensitive towards the needs of the NE people including ethnicity and identity.

"What I can say is for the protection of the indigenous language, culture, tradition, social practice, heritage… everything is being done by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and his government. This government is very sensitive to the needs of the people of NE including the ethnicity and identity," he said.

Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the concerned state government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state.

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