Meghalaya: KHADC urges Centre to implement ILP to safeguard interests of local populace

Shillong: Meghalaya's Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Tuesday unanimously passed two resolutions asking the central and state governments to implement laws for restricting entry of outsiders to the tribal-dominated state. In other words, the KHADC has reiterated the demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state yet again.

The KHADC is one of the three tribal councils of Meghalaya. It has now passed a resolution urging the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to safeguard the interests of the tribal people of the state. It needs mention here that tensions are now running high in the state of Meghalaya over fears of implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act which envisages the granting of citizenship to as many as 6 non-Muslim communities from neighbouring countries. At the same time, local bodies like the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) have issued a warning to 'Bengalis' for meddling in Meghalaya's state of affairs.

The Inner Line Permit is a travel document required by outsiders, including people from other states of the country, to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

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The Centre decided to extend the ILP regime to Manipur in December last year to allay fears over the implementation of the 'CAA'. It was generally felt that such a move would add more fuel to the demand for implementation ILP in the other Northeast Indian states. In Assam, regional entities such as the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) have long been agitating for the implementation of the ILP.

According to reports, the KHADC also passed another resolution asking the state government to properly implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, and a third one requesting the governor to give his nod to a Bill seeking to amend this law for checking the influx of people.

After tabling the resolutions on the first day of the Council’s autumn session, chief executive member Titosstarwell Chyne said that the ILP will ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the state and protect the demographic structure of its tribal population

The Council was constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution with executive, legislative and judicial powers. Its jurisdiction extends to four districts: East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi.

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