ILP issue: PDF expresses concern over Centre’s delay

PDF leader and cabinet minister Hamletson Dohling told reporters on Monday that the party is having sleepless nights due to the Centre’s delay to response to the request made by the state government for an appointment to discuss on the issue.

“A delegation of the PDF ministers has recently met the chief minister and expressed unhappiness over this inordinate delay by the Centre to call the state delegation on the ILP issue. We have also asked him to put pressure on the Centre to response without any further delay,” Dohling said.

Stating that ILP is a long pending aspiration of the people of the state, the urban affairs minister said that there is growing frustration not only among ministers but the citizens as well.

“Therefore, the PDF and other coalition partners in the MDA wants the Centre to immediately call the government for a meeting to know its mind on whether it will extend the ILP to Meghalaya or not,” he said.

When sought for his reaction on the allegation made by former Nongkrem MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit that there is an understanding between the union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister to delay the implementation of ILP in the state, Dohling however said he is not aware.

“The PDF is only concern about the ILP issue as people of the state are anxious to know what is happening to the resolution passed last year. It is not right to make allegations,” he said.

Asked, the minister said the PDF has asked the chief minister to be more aggressive and has decided to wait till the Delhi elections are over. “If there is further delay after this, then it is not a good sign,” he said.

Earlier, chief minister had informed that the union home minister has assured to meet the state delegation after the Delhi elections to discuss on the ILP resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on December 19, last year.

By Our Reporter