CoMSO keeps up pressure on Centre for ILP in Meghalaya

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (CoMSO), an umbrella of various pressure groups of the State, on Saturday announced its second phase of agitation to put pressure on the Centre to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State.

“From February 12 we start our direct action programme and ask our volunteers to go to the streets and implement our own ILP,” CoMSO chairperson Robertjune Kharjahrin said.

It may be mentioned that the CoMSO in their first phase of agitation organized an evening sit-in demonstration since February 4 which ended on Saturday.

“We will make sure that those who cannot prove their citizenship or those working without labour licence will be detained,” Kharjahrin said. The CoMSO chairman also urged the traditional heads not to allow outsiders to stay in areas under their respective jurisdiction.

“We also urge the contractors to employ locals only,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kharjahrin also said that if ILP is not implemented in Meghalaya the MLAs of the State should take responsibility. It may be mentioned that on December 19 last year, the Meghalaya Assembly had passed a resolution to urge the Centre to implement ILP in the State.

Meanwhile, the CoMSO on Friday, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the issue of influx of immigrants into Meghalaya.

In the memorandum, the CoMSO alleged that the Central Government, has violated the doctrine of the federal structure of the Constitution, as till date, it has not given approval to the implementation of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 popularly known as ILP, even though the Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution to this effect.

The CoMSO also accused the Governor of Meghalaya of violating the Constitution of India as he has refused to concur with the advise of the Council of Ministers since till date, he has not given his assent to the MRSSA (Amendment) Ordinance 2019.

In the memorandum, the CoMSO has demanded, that the State Government along with all the MLAs of the State should take aggressive steps to appeal to the Centre to approve the resolution for the implementation of ILP.

“The State Government should create necessary pressure so that the Governor of Meghalaya immediately gives his assent to the MRSSA (amendment) Ordinance, 2019,” the memorandum to the Chief Minister states.

The CoMSO also wants to strengthen the Directorate of Infiltration by creating its own battalion and that a separate cell of the infiltration branch must be created in each and every police station of the State. It also demanded for effectively implementing the mandate of the District Task Force in each of the 11 Districts and to give necessary order to all the Labour Inspectors posted in various districts in the state to conduct regular checking.

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