Shillong, November 30: Inner Line Permit (ILP activists burned the effigy of Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma even as they vowed to intensify their stir to achieve their demand for implementation of the ILP in the state. The rally however was peaceful as till the filing of this report no untoward incident was reported from any parts of the city.
Thousands of ILP activists converged to the public rally called by the thirteen pro- ILP ngos at Students Field in Jaiaw on Saturday. The turnout was huge with more than 30 thousand people attending the rally and most of them were students, women and youths.
The ngos leaders who were all in hiding ever since the ILP agitations took off three months ago surfaced in the meeting. Addressing the rally all the leaders asserted their commitment to continue the agitation till the state government decides to implement the ILP.
Political leaders from the UDP like Paul Lyngdoh and Jemino Mawthoh were also seen in the meeting besides HSPDP supremo and veteran legislator HS Lyngdoh and KHNAM leaders.
Speaker after speaker demanded the implementation of ILP and nothing else as they said it was a strong mechanism to contain illegal influx into the state even as ILP activists burnt the effigy of chief minister and condemned what they called ‘dictatorial-attitude’ of the state government under his leadership.
The ngos leaders outrightly rejected the proposed Meghalaya Landlords and Tenancy Regulations Bill, 2013 which the government is planning to implement to control influx instead of the ILP which the ngos have been demanding.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president Daniel Khyriem said that the huge public participation in the rally is the answer to those who were all along asking how many people are supporting the ILP movement. He said, “The huge turnout is the answer to those of you who has been questioning the ILP movement.”
Referring to the crowd who were shouting slogan of ILP, Khyriem said the voice that is coming out from the rally can also be heard by a deaf person and it will shake the secretariat building of the government till the ILP is implemented.”
Khyriem asserted, “Our demand stands that there will be no other mechanism but the ILP.” He urged the public to extend their support and cooperate with the ngos in the ILP movement. He also affirmed that come what may the ngos will not stop the fight till the government bow down and implement the ILP in the state.
Making a scathing attack on Sangma Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) general secretary Sadon Blah said the ngos will not bow down but will intensify their movement till the ILP was put into operation. He said, “ You (government) may try to portray us (ngos) like criminals. But fighting for the rights of the people of our land, we will not hesitate to become criminals till you implement what we are demanding.”
Stating that Meghalaya Prevention Detention Act (MPDA) can imprison a person only for seven years, Blah, however, said, “If you (govt) implement the ILP, we will surrender ourselves and you can even lock us up for 70 years. We don’t mind.” He said the ngos are not asking the government to give them star which he agreed it will not be able to give but was demanding for a ‘law’ which is within a man’s capability.
Blah said the government’s version that the ILP will be a hindrance to the tourism sector is nothing but a bluff. He said, “The more the state government is talking about development, the more we will pressurize the government to implement the ILP.” He said that the ILP is the right of the indigenous tribal to self-determination for their own future.
Participating in the meeting, Garo Students’ Union (GSU) president Tengsak G Momin said that the ILP movement is not of the ngos alone but is the movement of the local indigenous of the state. He said, “I challenge the state government this movement will not end until the ILP is put in place.”
On the propose Tenants Bill of the government Momin said it cannot address the issue of influx and instead thundered, “We need a Lion law (ILP) and we don’t need a Mice law (tenants bill).”- By Our Reporter
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