Shillong, October 5: Building up pressure just ahead of the Durga Puja celebration on the Congress led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II coalition government of Mukul Sangma the ten ngos have announced fresh three-day ‘night road-blockade’ from Monday demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to stop illegal immigration and influx into the state.
The night road blockade will start from 7pm to 5 am from October 7 to October 9.
“We have unanimously decided to continue with our agitations till our demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is achieved,” Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) general secretary Sadon K Blah said in a statement issued on Saturday night.
Even though some organizations have requested the ngos to exempt the agitation during the Durga Puja celebration the ngos seem to be in no mood to oblige.
Amid strong protest, the state government has out rightly rejected the demand for ILP and instead has set the ball rolling for implementation of the ‘Meghalaya Regulation of Landlord and Verification of Tenants Bill, 2013’.
“We are not happy and satisfied with the knee jerk reaction of the government in hurriedly notifying the Tenancy Bill because this bill does not meet our demands as far as regulating the entry of migrants into our state is concern,” Blah said.
Blah also pointed out that the genesis for the demand for implementation of the ILP in the state is the overflowing of the migrants’ population in the state as per the census report of 2001-2011 where has indicated that the non-indigenous population exceeded the tribal population in many urban and sub-urban areas of the state.
Stating that chief minister has shied away from addressing the issue of influx, Blah said, “This is the reason that prompted the ngos to demand the implementation of the ILP as we know that this is the existing provision in the state of Meghalaya.” He also said the repealing of the act of 1879 in Garo hills does not exist in paper, it is Mukul’s hearsay intended to mislead the people.”
On the modification of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) and setting up of a special court, Blah termed the move as a threat to subdue the democratic process of protests by the ngos.
“His (Mukul) proposal to introduce the special court by way of modification of the MMPO is only the threat tactics to subdued the democratic process of protests and to wipe out the ngos in the state for eternity.” But, he added, as ngos they are firm in their resolution and will not be deterred by any threat and intimidations.
Blah also said that the chief minister must understand that the demand for implementation of ILP stems from the influx which needs a political solution not a judicial decisions by arresting the leaders and volunteers of the ngos and framing them in his special courts. – By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours