‘Ready for ILP debate’

SHILLONG, JUNE 23: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has outrightly rejected the claim made by chief minister Mukul Sangma that the proposed Facilitation Centre (FC) will serve as an alternative to ILP for checking influx.

According to the leaders of the council, the facilitation centre which is mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 cannot be compared with the effectiveness of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

“To say the facilitation centre can be an alternative to ILP is totally wrong because the ILP can prohibit the entry of people into the state,” HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters here on Friday.

He however added – “But what is good in this Residents Safety & Security Act when you have not given it the power to take action or restrict the entry of people from outside especially those without documents.”

Pointing out the difference between the ILP and the FC, Kharjahrin said with ILP, a person has to apply permit before entering the state whereas in the FC, a person enter the state and then produce documents.

His statement came a day after the chief minister made the statement that the FC will be an alternative to ILP during his visit to the state’s first railway at Mendipathar where the facilitation centre is proposed to be set up.

In view of this, the HYC leader demanded the chief minister to take back his statement and refrain from misleading the people of the state on this sensitive issue.

Implementation of the ILP is one among the 14-point demand submitted by the HYC to the state government for ensuring effective mechanisms are in place to check influx and illegal immigration into the state.

During the 2013 ILP agitations, the state government had expressed its inability to implement the ILP in Meghalaya and instead agreed to come up with comprehensive anti-influx mechanisms as proposed by the 13 NGOs.

Asked, Kharjahrin challenged the chief minister and his entire Cabinet for a debate on the government’s notion.

“We are ready to face the chief minister and his Cabinet to debate on this issue if they are saying that the ILP is not feasible in the state,” he said adding that they had on several occasion sought appointment with the CM, who however did not response till date.