KHNAM Against politicizing Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue in State

A Reporter

SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has asked the Congress and other political parties to refrain from politicizing the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State.

This came a day after Congress MP from Shillong Vincent H Pala had stated that if the State gets ILP, it will lose its Sixth Schedule status.

KHNAM vice-president Thomas Passah while expressing shock said making such a statement only reflects complete lack of knowledge on the part of the MP with regards to the two issues.

He also appealed to the Congress and other political parties not to politicise the issue. “The Central Government and all concerned should understand that the Sixth Schedule and the ILP are two different issues. While Sixth Schedule is for protecting the identity of the indigenous people, ILP will regulate the entry and settlement of outsiders,” Passah said.

He said the Centre has to implement the ILP as demanded by the people and all the 60 MLAs of Meghalaya and retain its Sixth Schedule status.

“If other States are having both ILP and Article 371, then how can it be when it comes to our State, we would have to choose only one,” he said.

Meanwhile, the KHNAM also asked the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to stick to its decision and ensure that Meghalaya gets ILP at the earliest.

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