SHILLONG, OCT 20: The pro Inner Line Permit (ILP) ngos spearheading the demand for the immediate implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya has invited the President Pranab Mukherjee to visit and witness the demographic change in the hill tribes due to influx and migration.
According to the ngos , the issue of influx and migration is one agenda which is breathing life into many agitations and militancy in North Eastern region.
“If you have the leisure please visit parts of Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and many pockets in Shillong city you will bear witness to the change of the demographic structure of the Hill tribes due to influx and migration and how these people have usurped our economy and there is a constant attempt to usurp our polity also,” the ngos said in an open letter to be submitted to the President who will on his two days maiden visit to the state on October 21 and 22.
The ngos said, “If you can do that even you will be convinced that yes Inner line Permit (ILP) is required for this small State inhabited by the indigenous minority that is, the Khasi, Jaintia and Garos.”
Meghalaya being a comparatively peaceful State in North East, the ngos said that they also want to continue with that culture of peace and Indianess, but we also have to be cautious or else we will also reach the stage of Assam, Sikkim and Tripura.
“We have to be cautious on the fact that influx and migration into our State is real and threatening, even in the High Level Committee on Influx headed by then Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong none deny this reality,” the open letter said.
Alleging that all migrants into Meghalaya enter via Assam, the ngos said that these are mostly from the Muslim dominated Assam and informed that these people after obtaining any documents of proof like a Goan certificate from any Goan Panchayat of Assam to proof that they are Indian citizens freely enter Meghalaya .
According to the ngos, Assam is yet to give its nod on the compulsory registration of voters by making it mandatory for all voters to obtain EPIC to exercise the right to vote for the fact that there are many illegal migrants who are illegally staying in Assam.
“But it is ironic that the Government of Meghalaya is entertaining documents of proof of citizenship no matter how fake issued by the Assam Panchayat or other documents obtained from Assam authorities to enable the migrants and floating population to get enrolled in the Voters list,” the letter stated.
The ngos also expressed apprehension that there is an evil design of the vested interests including the politicians and political parties to ensure their vote banks by creating a conducive atmosphere for the migrants of doubtful identity to get themselves enroll in the voters list of Meghalaya.
Reiterating the demand for exempting Meghalaya from the purview of the Indo-Nepal Treaty, the pro ILP groups said, “The Indo-Nepal Treaty has done more damage than good to the state in all aspects, economically, socially, culturally and politically we are facing with a situation of double jeopardy of influx and migration here ie the migration of migrants of doubtful identity and the migration of the so called friendly Nepalese from Nepal.”
“We are demanding the exemption of the Indo-Nepal Treaty as far as its applicability to the State of Meghalaya in view of the fact that Meghalaya is a State of the minorities which the Constitution of India has given due recognition by giving us a separate State in lines with the Linguistic Reorganization of States,” the letter stated.
They informed that they have been demanding from the State government to invoke the Inner Line Permit Regulation of 1873 which is still in vogue in the State as per Section 2 and 4 of the Regulation and the present government can legislate as per the requirement of the contemporary times.
“However government needs to ensure that every person nationals and non-nationals will have to obtain the entry permit before entering Meghalaya so that this will be the channel in which all migrants are detected before they try to usurp our political and economic space and also before they damage the demographic structure of the indigenous people of Meghalaya,” the letter said.
The letter further asserted, if other States like Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim can have such law why is Meghalaya denied the same despite the fact that this law is still very much alive in the State.
According to the ngos’ letter, the demand for ILP is made in view of the fact that there is a large scale influx into the state, but unfortunately the demands seems to fall on deaf ears of the chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma, this compelled the ngos to call for a series of agitations in the state from September 2013.
The letter informed that the ngos have demanded the implementation of the Inner Line Permit in our State the Government under the leadership of the incumbent Chief Minister had constituted the High Level Committee on Influx that was before the State legislative Assembly election 2013.
I do see a genuine problem of migration. Assam, West Bengal could be best examples where because of vote bank the migrants are enjoying full time settlement. But Meghalaya is known for tourism. How would we address this ie how would we let the tourists to enter w/o the hassles of ILP. Also a large number of population are working outside Meghalaya, how will they visit their hometowns on vacations & during festival seasons.
Yes.. i do agree with those who say…that ILP would really hindered the flow of tourists into the state of Meghalaya and also how ILP would effect those Meghalayan who stay outside..
For a genuine tourists ILP is not a problem at all I always visit Shillong my second home with Passport, Visa and all proper documents.
I could see if the Govt of India care for the life in the jungle and put up a Wild Life Department to protect the indigenous species how much more the Khasi Society is precious to be preserve.
For the Meghalayan staying outside the state i wanna remind every one that we all need a key to enter our house too.. so to prove that we are the original residents of the state is not a problems at all..
Sorry i do not agree with those who say…that ILP would really hindered the flow of tourists into the state of Meghalaya and also how ILP would effect those Meghalayan who stay outside..
For a genuine tourists ILP is not a problem at all I always visit Shillong my second home with Passport, Visa and all proper documents.
I could see if the Govt of India care for the life in the jungle and put up a Wild Life Department to protect the indigenous species how much more the Khasi Society is precious to be preserve.
For the Meghalayan staying outside the state i wanna remind every one that we all need a key to enter our house too.. so to prove that we are the original residents of the state is not a problems at all..
In my opinion, to end up all this chaotic situation in the state, the so called wise and clever CM, should never be so tyrant but leave it to the voice of the people in the form of public voting or signature campaign. The voice vote in the Assembly is not enough as this is a burning issue and it will not end until and unless the CM proves his diplomatic solution. The question is why tourists are so afraid of ILP if implemented in Meghalaya? Other states are also in the purview of ILP and it gives us no problem whenever we visit those states. Instead, what I feel is once they have obtained a permit, they should move freely anywhere all over the entire state till the expiry and vality of their ILP which the have applied for. That proposed Tenancy Act should also be brought for public hearing and be viewed for its feasibility and applicability.