MDC Latiplang Kharkongor Hints At Review of Instrument of Accession

SHILLONG: Nongthymmai MDC Latiplang Kharkongor on Thursday said that since the Central government is not respecting the views and opposition by the people of the state on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 the NDA government should return the Instrument of Accession (IOA) signed by the Khasi states in 1948.

“Even at present in my recent visit to the Indo-Bangla border the citizens of Bangladesh are entering freely into our state through the international border and if this Bill becomes an Act what will happen to the indigenous minority community of Meghalaya,” Latiplang Kharkongor told reporters here today.

Latiplang Kharkongor added, “If the Centre is not respecting our views on the Bill then they should return the IOA so that we can review the agreement signed in 1948.”

He also pointed out that despite strong opposition from different states in the North East including Meghalaya and Assam on the Bill the NDA government has bulldozed the opposition of the people of NE by passing the bill in the Lok Sabha.

“In the Amendment there is no exemption for states in the North East despite many of the people in the region are from a minority community but the Central government is adamant to enforce this Bill,” he said.

Citing Tripura, he said, “The people of Tripura have become a minority in their own state and if this bill becomes an Act it will further affect the indigenous people of that state and it will change the demographic of the entire North East region,” he said.

He said that in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in all these three states Inner Line Permit (ILP) is implemented to safeguard the indigenous people of these states from influx, however in Meghalaya there is still no proper mechanism to check influx.

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