Engagement will continue on ILP

Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Sangma said that the state government has been moving forward with the issue but one has to understand that such matters do take time as the state has to discuss with the Government of India.

“It is not something that will happen in one go, so the process is on. There is commitment from everybody, the state government has raised this issue, passed a resolution, moving forward and is continuously pressing with the government of India and this engagement will continue,” he stated.

He was reacting to the recent statement by the opposition Congress questioning the shift of discussion from ILP to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) during the meeting held between the chief minister and union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

Rebutting the allegation, the chief minister informed that they had a detailed discussion on both ILP and MRSSA.

“It was a very positive meeting and the fact that he (Shah) has agreed now to spend time out here and listen to all concerns of the individuals. In a joking manner he even mentioned that he will have lunch and discuss with everybody, I will spend hours as it concerns the nation and its something that the Meghalaya government we have been mentioning about it a lot…,” he said.

“I am happy that the home minister has decided to come to Shillong and really sit with the different organizations and really understand the issues our people are facing and why these kinds of different demands are there… I think that would lead to a positive solution in the future,” the CM asserted.

He also informed that the union home minister had assured that the Centre would do whatever is needed to protect the identity, culture and language of the people of the North East region but it must be done in a manner which is acceptable and within the constitutional provisions of the country.

As far as the MRSSA is concerned, the chief minister said during the discussion the union home minister had asserted the need to ensure the system should be there, the objective should be met but at the same time to ensure no inconveniences is caused to the citizens of the nation.

“Therefore, he urged the officials from the state as well as from the centre to sit together, trash out the issue and find a way forward in this particular situation that we are in.

That was a very positive move as earlier we were not able to move forward in this discussion, but now the home minister had asked us to work together and find an amicable solution to the MRSSA,” he said.

By Our Reporter